J Korean Bone Joint Tumor Soc.  2011 Dec;17(2):87-90. 10.5292/jkbjts.2011.17.2.87.

Pathologic Fracture Due to an Osteoblastoma of the Humerus Shaft: A Case Report

• Yum JK
• Park JG
• Kim MK

• KMID: 1444794
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5292/jkbjts.2011.17.2.87

Abstract

Osteoblastoma is rare, benign, bone-forming tumor that often occur in the spine. There are few reports of osteoblastomas resulting in pathologic fractures involving long bones. Authos report a unique case of a pathologic fracture due to an osteoblastoma of the humerus shaft. The tumor was treated successfully by curettage, intramedullary nailing and bone allograft.

Keyword

humerus shaft; pathologic fracture; osteoblastoma

MeSH Terms

Curettage
Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary
Fractures, Spontaneous
Humerus
Osteoblastoma
Spine
Transplantation, Homologous

Figure

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  Figure 1. Initial radiographs show a transverse humerus shaft fracture with displacement. At the fracture site, a radiopaque lesion is identified in the medullary space of the proximal fragment of the humerus (white arrows).

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  Figure 2. Enhanced MRI shows a focal sclerotic lesion involving both the medullary and cortical portions around the fracture site and a small enhancing portion at the periphery, suggesting a bone-forming tumor (white arrows).

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  Figure 3. Photomicrograph of the curettage specimen shows osteoid islands composed of osteoblasts and ossification with mineralisation (black arrows; haematoxylin & eosin, ×400).

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  Figure 4. Radiographs 6 months after the operation show radiological bone union.

Reference

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