Treatment of pathologic fractures

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Oncology
• Radiology

Background:

• Pathologic fractures result from bone weakened by disease.
• In the hand, solitary enchondroma is the most frequent cause.
• Other causes include cysts, benign, and malignant tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the importance of accurate diagnosis in managing hand pathologic fractures.
• To differentiate treatment approaches based on benign versus malignant underlying lesions.

Main Methods:

• Review of common and rare causes of pathologic fractures in the hand.
• Discussion of diagnostic importance for treatment planning.
• Analysis of treatment strategies based on lesion type.

Main Results:

• Solitary enchondroma is the predominant cause of hand pathologic fractures.
• Diagnosis dictates the urgency and approach to treatment.
• Malignant lesions necessitate prompt intervention, yet carry a poor prognosis.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis is paramount for successful treatment of hand pathologic fractures.
• Benign lesions may allow fracture healing before addressing the lesion.
• Malignant fractures require urgent care, but prognosis remains guarded.