Operative treatment of enchondromas of the hand: is cancellous bone grafting necessary?

Curettage is the treatment of choice for enchondromas, the most common primary tumour of the hand. In contrast, additional bone grafting remains controversial. Between 1998 and 2004, we operated on 22 patients with monostotic enchondroma of the hand. Sixteen patients (eight of whom had no additional bone grafting, and eight who had) were evaluated at a mean of 68 (range 42-108) months (no) and 50 (range 29-65) months (bone grafts) postoperatively. Bone density was measured densitometrically on the radiographs, and the groups were compared with each other and within themselves with corresponding locations on the healthy opposite hand. Neither bone density nor functional results were significantly different. Additional bone grafting in the treatment of enchondromas is not necessary and should be reserved for particular indications.