Effect of adjuvant therapies on recurrence in aneurysmal bone cysts

Objective: The aim of this study was to define the effective factors such as surgical method, age and cavity filling materials on local recurrence in the treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts. Methods: The study included 85 patients (mean age: 17.9 years) that received surgical treatment for primary aneurysmal bone cyst. Nine were treated with cyst excision and 76 with intralesional curettage. The intralesional curettage group was divided into 3 subgroups according to adjuvant therapies applied; the first group received no additional adjuvant therapy, the second group received additional high-speed burr and the third group received additional high-speed burr and alcohol/phenol adjuvant treatments. Bone graft or bone cement was used to fill in the cavity. Mean follow-up period was 107.5 months. Groups were analyzed statistically in terms of local recurrence. Onset of cyst in ages under 10 and 20 years were considered a negative prognostic factor and analyzed statistically. Results: Local recurrence occurred in 10 (11.8%) patients. Mean duration between the initial operation and recurrence was 10 months. There was no significant difference in terms of local recurrence among the surgical treatment groups, adjuvant therapy groups, age groups and bone graft and bone cement groups. Conclusion: Careful curettage of the entire cyst wall remains the most important step in the intralesional treatment of aneurysmal bone cyst.