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Aim: It was the aim of this retrospective study to evaluate the frequency of recurrences and complications in patients treated by conventional surgical methods at our institution between 1980 and 1996 and to compare them to those observed in patients treated by minimal invasive methods reported in the literature., Method: 70 patients with osteoid osteomas located at the extremities were treated by conventional surgical treatment. 51 patients underwent curettage and 19 patients had en bloc resection. After curettage an additional stabilising plate was implanted in 12% of the cases, after en bloc resection in 68%., Results: There are 66% event-free patients after curettage versus 47% after en bloc resection. Local recurrence rate after curettage was 7%, after en bloc resection no patient developed a recurrence. In both groups a postoperative fracture was observed. Persistent pain due to the implant was reported by 7% after curettage and by 24% after en bloc resection., Conclusion: The rate of complications rises with increasing invasiveness and it is necessary to balance the security concerning a local recurrence and the danger of persistent postoperative pain. Curettage is the surgical method of choice in the therapy of the osteoid osteoma, en bloc resection is justified only for recurrent lesions. Curettage is an alternative to minimal invasive methods in cases of superficially located osteoid osteomas or in cases of unfavourable locations of the nidus (near joint or growth plate, inaccessibility).