Osteoid osteoma of the hand and wrist: a report of 25 cases

Background: The hand and wrist bones are infrequent sites for osteoid osteoma, and its diagnosis can be dif-ficult. This paper reports 25 cases of osteoid osteoma in the hand and wrist. Methods: Records of the 25 patients who had pathological conditions of osteoid osteoma of the hand and wrist were reviewed and analyzed. Results: Twenty-five cases of osteoid osteoma of the hand and wrist were treated in 20 years period. The av-erage age was 25.2±7.6 years (range, 16 to 46 years) with men to women and right to left side ratio of 5.25 and 4 respectively. The most common site was in the proximal phalanx (ten cases). The diagnosis was made using x-rays, three- phase Technetium bone scans, CT, and MRI and all the diagnoses were confirmed by histological examination. The average time from the onset of symptom to successful treatment was 16.3±11.1 months, and at a mean follow-up of 36.6±46.9 mouths. Five recurrences of disease took place in which three of them were operated elsewhere. All five patients subsequently were treated and cured by reoperation. Conclusion: Osteoid osteoma is relatively rare lesions in the hand and wrist that can be a persistent source of hand and wrist pain. Patients under age of 40 who have otherwise unexplained pain should be evaluated.