Hyperplastic callus formation in osteogenesis imperfecta; report of a case and review of the literature.

Hyperplastic callus in osteogenesis imperfecta is rare. I have been able to find only fifteen reported cases. The condition manifests itself by the formation of enormous masses of callus which may follow a fracture or a simple contusion or which may arise spontaneously without any preceding injury. Baker (1946) gave a classical account of the pathology and Fairbank (1948) gave an equally comprehensive picture of the clinical features. The first case report is by Battle and Shattock (1908) who described ‘ ‘ a remarkable case of diffuse cancellous osteoma, ‘ ‘ the description and illustration of which leave no doubt that it was a case of hyperplastic callus formation. Treatment is difficult and uncertain. One patient was subjected to amputation because the disease was mistaken for sarcoma. For the same reason another patient was treated by deep x-ray therapy but this was not effective. A further patient treated by deep x-ray responded favourably (Hilton 1934). In the case reported here, I had the opportunity of observing the early development of the condition in several bones at different times. I believed that any treatment could be effective only if given in the earliest stage of callus formation when its growth is most rapid and mitosis at its height.