Abstract
Twelve children (6 boys and 6 girls with mean age of 12.3 yrs and age range of 8-16 yrs) who had benign bone tumor were treated with curettage followed by the implantation of hydroxyapatite (HAP). The children were followed for an average of four years and ten months after operation.
Clinical results were excellent in all cases and there were no toxic effects or abnormal laboratory findings. No local recurrence of tumor was seen except in one 8-year-old boy who had fibrous dysplasia in his right humerus. New bone formation surrounding HAP was observed on radiogram within two months after operation in all cases. Postoperative bone scintigram showed high uptake at the site of packing with HAP. Longitudinal and transverse bone growths were not disturbed compared with normal side. In two cases in whom HAP was implanted close to the growth plate, no functional abnormalities of growth plate were observed.
In conclusion, implantation of HAP is a safe and useful method for children.
