Intraosseous Bioplasty for a Subchondral Cyst in the Lateral Condyle of Femur

Several conditions can lead to the development of a subchondral cyst. The mechanism by which the cysts form, their location, and their severity depend on the underlying pathology, although the exact pathogenesis is not fully elucidated. Treatment options vary according to the location of the cyst, with less invasive procedures such as calcium phosphate cement injection to a joint arthroplasty when there is an extensive cyst in communication with the joint space. If the cyst is circumscribed, an intraosseous bioplasty (IOBP) can be performed. Described in this paper is an IOBP, a minimally invasive technique that preserves the joint and can be applied to most subchondral cysts. In our patient, both the appearance of the cyst at imaging and pain after IOBP greatly improved with the combined use of decompression and grafting. In those patients in whom conservative management fails to ameliorate symptoms, IOBP should be considered.