[Multiple cartilagenous exostoses]

This is a review of aspects of hereditary multiple exostosis relevant for the orthopedic surgeon. The autosomally dominant hereditary disease with great individual expression is the result of dysplasia of the peripheral growth plate. During growth exostosis can induce severe secondary deformities and reduction of joint mobility, especially the forearm, knee and ankle. Treatment is surgical with the removal of symptom-producing exostoses the most common procedure. For corrective surgery careful preoperative planning, careful choice of treatment modality and sustained follow-up are necessary. The nearly 1% risk of malignant transformation, most frequently to low-grade chondrosarcoma, must be monitored. A rare complication is cervical cord compression.