Contribution to the vascular origin of the unicameral bone cyst.

Vascular occlusion between bone cyst and intramedullary venous system seems to be the primum movens in the genesis of a unicameral bone cyst. High speed injection of saline and alternative aspiration injection of the cyst fluid and reaming of the medullary cavity clearly open vascular channels connecting the bone cyst to the intramedullary venous system. This was monitored by pre- and postmanipulative radiographs. This technique was employed in 12 patients with a unicameral bone cyst. All but one went on to healing with increasing diameter of the cortical bone and filling of the cystic cavity.