Comparative Study of the Simple Curettage and the Curettage with Bonegraft in Enchondroma of the Hand

Kang, Eung Shick; Roh, Kwon Jae; Yoo, Jae Doo

Abstract

To determine whether simple curettage is recommendable for the solitary enchondroma of hand, the results of the simple curettage and the curettage with bonegraft were compared in the respects of operation time, the degree of new bone formation, healing time and complications. Thirty five patients have been evaluated to assess the results of treatments. The bone healing and the degree of new bone formation have been evaluated according to the criteria of Tordai (l990). The bone healing had been achieved at average 7.4 months after operation in the simple curettage group and at average 4.6 months in the curettage with bonegraft group (P<0.05). According to Tordai's criteria, among the simple curettage patients, 9 cases (64%) were group I, 5 cases (36%) were group II, no case was group III. Among the curettage with bonegraft patients, 16 cases (76%) were group I, 4 cases (19%) were group II, 1 case (5%) was group III. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in the degree of new bone formation (P=0.05). Although the healing time was longer in the simple curettage group, no significant difference was found in the degree of new bone formation. The pain of the bone donor site was absent in the simple curettage group, and the simple curettage can reduce the operation time. The curettage alone is a recommendable treatment for solitary enchondroma in hand.