A simple method for percutaneous resection of osteoid osteoma.

OBJECTIVE To introduce a method that can be performed with minimal equipments available to most orthopedic surgeons and precludes the extensive anesthetic and ablative requirements. METHODS A percutaneous lead tunnel was first established in the cortex next to the nidus under computerized tomography guidance with local anesthesia; then the nidus was curetted in the operating room through the lead tunnel. The study was performed in Shariati Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from September 2002 to December 2005. RESULTS Nineteen patients were treated with this method with 94.7% cure rate. The diagnosis was histologically confirmed in 16 cases (84.2%). Failure occurred in one patient. The patients had a mean follow-up of 13.5 months with no recurrence of symptoms with mean hospitalization time of 1.6 days. CONCLUSION This technique is simple, minimally invasive and effective. It needs no especial equipments and provides the material for tissue diagnosis.