Enchondroma of the Hand: Result of Surgery Curettage and Grafting and Possible Factors Affecting the Outcome

A retrospective review for enchondroma in the hand which had undergone operative treatment is presented. Twenty patients were treated operatively over a 10-year period. A total of 70% of the patients presented with pathological fracture. Enchondromas were most commonly located in the little finger (65%) and proximal phalange (60%). Enchondromas presented with pathological fractures and were treated definitively after the fracture had healed, except for one patient with open reduction, internal fixation of fracture, and bone grafting. All 20 patients underwent curettage of the enchondroma. In the same operative occasion, 16 patients received bone grafting, three patients received bone substitutes, and one had received bone cement. Fourteen (70%) of the patients suffered no major postoperative complications. Postoperative stiffness was encountered in seven patients. A secondary operation for relief of postoperative stiffness was performed in three patients. Factors were assessed for their risk of resulting in postoperative stiffness and occurrence of secondary operation. Factors included sex, age, pathological fracture, location of lesion, and preoperative stiffness. Only preoperative stiffness was a statistically significant risk factor contributing to postoperative stiffness and occurrence of a secondary operation