Idiopathic Osteolysis

Overview

The authors present a survey of the idiopathic osteolysis syndrome. The case of a 14-year boy with idiopathicosteolysis of proximal half of the right humerus is described. The injury, reported in anamnesis occurred on thealready pathologically changed terrain. The fracture was not healing: in contrast there was a gradual resorptionof the bone. No hereditary disposition to the disease or to kidney affection was demonstrated, tumorous orinflammatory processes were excluded. Even hemangiomatosis or angiomatosis, which accompany the Gorham-Stout’s syndrome were not demonstrated.Eight months after the beginning of the disease a treatment with Calcitonin followed the progress of osteolysisto come to the halt. Paresis of brachial plexus of upper type was an accompanying clinical manifestation.The authors report that after several months there were no signs of reparation and a radical solution becamenecessary in the form of substitution of proximal half of humerus by the patient’s own fibula with proximalepiphysis being saved. The graft gradually healed up, the muscular strength improved and the paresis diminished.Four years later the patient is completely without complaints and no relapse of the disease occurred.

Key words:
idiopathic osteolysis, Gorham-Stout syndrome, therapy