Published in:
01-08-2013 | Original Paper
Factors predictive of positive response to steroid therapy in simple bone cysts: an old trick that still works
Published in: International Orthopaedics | Issue 8/2013
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Purpose
The aim of the study was to identify clinical, demographic and radiological factors predicting a positive response to steroid treatment in simple bone cysts (SBCs).
Methods
A retrospective study was conducted on 62 patients. The mean follow-up period was 9.2 years after the final steroid injection. Recurrences were defined according to Neer’s scale as modified by Chang et al.. To identify predictive factors, the group of patients who positively responded to treatment (Neer stages I and II, n = 39, 62.9 %, group 1) were compared with the group in which recurrences occurred (Nerr stages III and IV, n = 23, 37.1 %, group 2).
Results
Recurrences were experienced by 37.1 % of the patients (n = 23). Cyst location, numbers of cavities (uni- or multilocular), the area of the cyst and its Enneking stage differed significantly between the groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Steroid therapy may be of benefit in patients with unilocular, small-sized, humeral cysts, classified as Enneking stage IA.