Autogenous Bone Graft as a Surgical Method for Treatment of Simple Bone Cyst in Calcaneus

Background: Simple bone cysts are benign lesions with fluid content, commonly occur in the proximal femur and humerus and rarely occur in the calcaneus. Calcaneal bone cysts are usually asymptomatic, diagnosed incidentally on radiographs and rarely susceptible to pathological fractures, but it may present with heel pain. The site of the cysts is usually the neutral triangle of the calcaneus. Plain radiograph, CT, MRI and histopathology examinations are the diagnostic tools for simple bone cyst (SBC) in calcaneus. Objective: To evaluate the results of using autogenous bone graft in surgical treatment of simple bone cysts in calcaneus. Patients and Method: A prospective study held between February 2019 and February 2020, where 12 patients included with simple bone cyst in the calcaneus managed by curettage and autogenous bone graft were admitted to Orthopedic Department at Zagazig University Hospitals and followed up for 6 to 12 months. Results: Age of the patients ranged from 5 to 30 years with mean age of 15.8 years. 8 [66.7%] patients were male and 4 [33.3%] patients were female. All of the patients had heel pain and two of them [16.7%] had pathological fractures. 10 patients [83.3%] had complete healing of the cyst while 2 patients [16.7%] of them healed with defect and all of the studied cases [100%] had complete clinical resolution. The observed complications during the follow-up period were superficial infection on one [8.3%] patient and delayed wound healing on another [8.3%] patient. Conclusion: Curettage and autogenous bone graft is an effective successful method for treating SBC in the calcaneus.