[Enchondroma of the hand]

Enchondromata are the most frequent benign tumours of the bones of the hand. From 1973 to 1990 77 patients were treated at the trauma- and hand surgery department of the Westfälische Wilhelms-University in Münster because of a histologically confirmed enchondroma. Those 52 patients (32 female, 20 male, average age 32 years), who were operated on until 1986 were reviewed. After an average history of 16 months the diagnosis was made most often because of a painful swelling. In 15% a spontaneous fracture was seen and in 17% the enchondroma was diagnosed by chance. The enchondroma was merely exstirpated or in other cases the defect was filled with a bone graft. The follow-up with a maximal time of 14 years postoperatively yielded in 81.6% an excellent and good result. A 5.7% (3 pat.) recurrence rate was observed and was attributed to an incomplete resection of the underlying pathology. Follow up X-rays are therefore recommended.