[Primary aneurysmal bone cyst. Evaluation of the symptomatology, treatment and prognosis based on 21 patients].

PABC is a rather rare, non-malignant osteolytic bone disease, affecting children and young people. Most frequently, it is localized to the metaphyses of the long bones. The present material consists of 21 cases, treated in the Orthopaedic Hospital in Aarhus between 1973 and 1991. Nineteen patients were treated with curettage of the cyst followed by bone grafting to the cavity. Six (31%) had recurrences. Five were operated again without any recurrence. The last patient has not yet received any further treatment. Two patients were initially treated by bone resection. No postoperative complications occurred. Curettage of PABC followed by bone grafting is recommended as the treatment of choice, in spite of the recurrence rate mentioned above. Because of the risk of recurrence after this treatment, regular follow-up examinations are necessary until healing has occurred i order to treat a possible local recurrence in time.