The diagnosis and treatment of tibial intercondylar chondroblastoma

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of tibial intercondylar chondroblastoma. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the diagnosis and treatment of 12 patients with tibial intercondylar chondroblastoma admitted to the orthopedics department from May 2011 to February 2016; among them were 4 males and 3 females aged 10-19 years, with an average age of 15.7 years. Tibial intercondylar chondroblastoma was on the left and right side in 7 and 5 cases, respectively. The preoperative average Lysholm score of the knee joint was 68 (42-87). A posteromedial approach was applied in all cases. The incisions were approximately 5-8 cm in length. Complete curettage and inactivation were performed after fenestration, and allogeneic bone grafts were transplanted. Then, the posterior cruciate ligament insertion was fixed with 5.0 suture anchors. All patients were followed up with regularly to monitor for tumor recurrence, observe bone graft healing, and reassess the Lysholm score of the knee. RESULTS: Patients were followed for 7-55 months, and the median follow-up time was 19 months. One patient experienced tumor relapse 4 months after the operation. Incision, inactivation and cementation were performed. Then, the bone was fixed with anchors. In the other 11 patients, the bone graft healed over an average period of 6.2 months (4-10 months), with good functional recovery postoperatively. The average postoperative Lysholm score of the knee was 91 (81-95). CONCLUSION: Tibial intercondylar chondroblastoma has unique clinical and imaging characteristics and can effectively be treated by curettage followed by the inactivation, transplantation and fixation of allogeneic bone grafts with suture anchors through a posteromedial approach.