Osteoid osteoma of the femoral neck in the young athlete.

The purpose of this paper is to present a progressive diagnostic and management program for osteoid osteoma of the femoral neck in the young athlete. Five young athletes with hip pain secondary to osteoid osteoma are presented. The average age of the patients was 15 years old, with an average followup of 4 years. Radioisotope bone scans, computed axial tomograms, and linear tomograms were valuable diagnostic aids. All five athletes were treated with a limited excisional biopsy via an anterior approach to the femoral neck. Associated treatment modalities, such as bone grafting, internal fixation, and cast immobilization, were not necessary. There were no major complications. The five young athletes returned to sports at an average of 4 months postoperatively. Osteoid osteoma of the femoral neck should be included in the differential diagnosis of hip pain in young athletes. A limited excisional biopsy provided a rapid return to sports for the young athlete without the potential morbidity associated with internal fixation, bone grafting, and cast immobilization.