Bulky fibular osteochondromas causing joint impingement in adults: A case series with review of literature

Abstract

Introduction: Osteochondromas are the most common benign bone tumors and represent 20-50% of all benign bone tumors and 10-15% of all bone tumors. The incidence of primary bone tumor in the fibula is 2.5%. Most osteochondromas are asymptomatic and are seen incidentally during radiographic examination. The most common symptom related to osteochondroma is a nontender, painless cosmetic deformity related to the slowly enlarging exophytic mass. Additional complications that cause symptoms include osseous deformity, fracture, vascular compromise, neurologic sequelae, overlying bursa formation, and malignant transformation. Case Series: In a series of two cases, we document the occurrence of osteochondromas involving the fibula in two adult males. While, these benign tumors were located at either ends of the bone, both patients had similar symptoms of swelling with restriction of joint movement and pain. Neither had neurovascular involvement in either limbs and there was no joint instability on examination. They both improved dramatically following surgical resection of these tumors without any recurrences. Conclusion: The two cases of fibular osteochondromas reported here illustrate their rare and atypical locations at the same time coincidentally possessing similar presentations of impingement due to their bulky sizes.