Extraarticular endoscopic excision of femoral head chondroblastoma

Three femoral head chondroblastomas (one associated with aneurysmal bone cyst) were excised, using a technique of percutaneous extraarticular curettage. Whereas a standard approach to the femoral head lesion requires hip arthrotomy plus a cortical window in the femoral head or neck, the extraarticular technique enters the tumor cavity via a tunnel drilled from the lateral femoral cortex through the medullary canal of the femoral neck. The videoarthroscope assists with visualization during curettage of the cartilage tumor. Bone graft material may be packed into the tumor cavity without fear of subsequent leakage into the joint space. At an average follow-up of 25 months, all three femoral head tumors have healed without recurrence and with no complications related to the approach. The extraarticular endoscopic approach could be used to treat selected benign femoral head or neck lesions other than chondroblastomas.