Proximal Tibia Chondroblastoma Treated With Curettage and Bone Graft and Cement Use

Chondroblastoma has a predilection for the epiphyses or apophyses of long tubular bones. Management of lesions in the proximal tibia is challenging because it is difficult to gain access to intraepiphyseal lesions for completion of curettage. From October 2007 to December 2011, 9 patients with de novo chondroblastoma of the proximal tibia underwent surgery at the authors' institution. All patients initially presented with pain, and 5 patients had limitation of range of motion of the ipsilateral knee. Four lesions abutted the tibial attachment sites of the cruciate ligaments. Surgical procedures included intralesional tumor curettage, additional burring, and packing of the defect with bone graft and/or bone cement. The extra-articular approach was used according to tumor location. The medial or lateral parapatellar approach was used when the tumor was located in the anterior two-thirds of the horizontal plane. When a lesion was located in the posterior third, the posteromedial or posterolateral approach was used as the lesion was cornered. Mean duration of follow-up was 47.2 months (range, 27-80 months). No local recurrence or pulmonary metastasis was noted at latest follow-up. Mean functional score was 29.3 points (range, 28-30 points). All patients fully recovered range of motion in the affected knee. No avulsion fracture or anteroposterior instability of the knee joint was detected. Results of the current study suggest that intralesion curettage followed by additional burring with an extra-articular approach is a successful treatment option for chondroblastoma of the proximal tibia.