BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To describe the surgical treatment of patients with a pathologic fracture through a benign tumor of the proximal femur to determine if there is a difference in local recurrence, complications or functional outcome compared to patients with tumors in the same location without pathologic fractures.

METHODS

From 1989-2010, of 97 patients, 29 presented with a pathologic fracture (PF) through a proximal femoral benign bone tumor and 68 presented without a pathologic fracture (NPF). Outcomes of the two groups were compared in terms of surgical management, postoperative complications, local recurrence and functional scores.

RESULTS

Fibrous dysplasia, giant cell tumor of bone and chondroblastoma were the most common subtypes. Most patients were managed with joint preservation in both PF (86.2%) and NPF (98.5%) groups (P = 0.03). Local recurrence risk was similar for patients in the PF (10.3%) and NPF (8.8%) groups. Mean follow-up was 105.7 months (P = 0.8). Functional outcome scores were high in both groups and not statistically significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of pathologic fractures through a benign bone tumor of the proximal femur can be successfully treated with curettage, burring, bone grafting and internal fixation without increasing the risk of local recurrence or negatively impacting functional outcome.