Minimally Invasive Technique for Curettage of Benign Bone Tumors using Endoscopic Technique

Objective: The purpose is to demonstrate that endoscopy resection can be used safely and effectively for the treatment of benign bone tumors. Methods: Ten benign bone tumors were treated by curettage using arthroscopy instruments, a new surgical technique that we called “Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Technique”. The curettage was performed by curette and high speed burr through a small bone window in all cases using arthroscopy instruments. The tumor cavity was packed finally with bone cement or bone allografts. Results: Endoscopic curettage allowed to remove benign bone tumor tissue under video-endoscopic view with good magnification and minimal damage to the cortical bone. All patients had relief of symptoms and rapid function restoration, without any complication. At mean follow-up of 24 months no local recurrence was observed. Conclusions: Minimally invasive technique using an endoscope seems to be a well suited method for access to lesions in difficult juxta-articular locations. In fact, direct video-endoscopic view allows safer and less destructive excision. The extra-articular technique enters the tumor cavity via a tunnel drilled through the medullary canal, allowing to visualize possible residual tumor tissue or defects of the articular surface, without violating the joint and without taking away a much bigger cortical window.