Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a developmental anomaly where normal bone marrow is replaced by dense fibrotic tissue containing a disorganized matrix and characterized by immature woven bone spicules [1]. FD nearly accounts for 5–7% of benign bone tumors. Only a few numbers of isolated case reports of FD involving the radius bone have been documented to this point [1]. Surgical management is a challenge due to the wide clinical spectrum. Indications for surgery include non-union, persistent pain, and progressive deformity. Surgical options include curettage and bone grafting, open reduction, and internal fixation with vascularized bone grafting [2]. The majority of bone grafts, especially autografts, fail to incorporate and the lesion eventually returns to a dysplastic state [3]. We report a case of monostotic FD of radius bone of an adolescent female with progressive deformity managed with surgical excision and cortical strut bone grafting without internal fixation.

A 14-year-old girl with the right dominant hand presented with gradually progressive deformity of the right forearm for the past 1 year associated with mild pain. There was no history of localized trauma or fever. Family history for similar deformities was absent. Local examination revealed a palpable thickening with deformity of the proximal two-thirds of the right radius. There was a restriction of terminal forearm pronation and supination. However, the function of the elbow and hand was unaffected. There was no evidence of distal neurovascular or tendon deficit. Skeletal radiographs (frontal and lateral view) of the right forearm revealed an expansile lytic lesion with ground glass appearance involving the proximal meta-diaphysis of the right radius, with its resultant bowing (Fig. 1). There was no sign of matrix calcification and the zone of transition was small. The lesion was causing thinning of the bony cortex. No obvious cortical breach, fracture, or periosteal reaction was noted. The overlying soft tissue was intact. A skeletal survey revealed no similar lesions elsewhere. With this radiographic appearance in mind, a provisional diagnosis of FD of the radius was put forth. The patient’s symptoms and deformity warranted surgical intervention. In FD, cancellous bone (autograft) grafts undergo resorption and replacement with the same type of poorly formed woven bone, and thus recurrence occurs, which may lead to fracture and deformity. Hence, a different surgical approach was envisioned with the use of a non-vascularized cortical bone graft. The lesion in the radius was explored using Henry’s approach [4], Intermuscular intervals being flexor carpi radialis and brachioradialis while internervous plane being median nerve and radial nerve. The proximal three-fourth of the radius bone was exposed and the lesion was excised along with 1 cm of normal bone on the distal side (Fig. 2). Proximally, a thin shell of the cortex was preserved after curettage of the proximal end of the radius and the specimen was sent for Histopathology to confirm the diagnosis. Fibular cortical strut graft was harvested from the leg of the same side. Graft length was kept 2 cm more than the excised bone to avoid shortening of the forearm. The graft was beveled on the distal end and jammed into the shaft of the distal radius such that 1 cm of the graft was inside the original bone (Fig. 3). Histopathology revealed a lesion comprising of trabeculae of immature woven bone having curvilinear branching appearance, embedded in a fibrous stroma. Post-operative radiographs were obtained and an above-elbow splint was applied to keep the elbow at 90° of flexion and the forearm in supination for a total of 6 months to allow for osseointegration and prevent any distal radioulnar joint discrepancy.

The patient was being followed up regularly. Follow-up radiographs (Fig. 4) obtained at 18 months revealed complete incorporation of the cortical bone graft with the reformation of the intramedullary bone canal and restoration of hand and elbow function with deformity being corrected (Fig. 5).

Lichtenstein in 1938 used the term FD initially to designate a developmental anomaly of unknown etiology characterized by replacement of fibrous tissue of the medullary cavity of bones [5]. FD is mainly caused by activating mutations of alpha-subunit of Gs protein [2]. Any bone can be involved, depending on the form of the disease. FD can be monostotic, affecting only one bone, or polyostotic, affecting numerous bones [6]. Endocrine issues and McCune-Albright syndrome are linked to polyostotic FD. Radiographs help in making an early diagnosis of these cases and are also helpful in their subsequent follow-up. Classically, lesions of FD are intramedullary, expansile, and show varying degrees of hazy density giving a ground-glass appearance [6]. There is cortical thinning with bowing and deformity of the involved bones. Lesions of FD can be complicated by pathological fracture, development of secondary aneurysmal bone cyst, and rarely, malignant transformation to osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and malignant fibrohistiocytoma [7]. Depending on the patient’s symptoms, management of FD might range from observation to surgical intervention. Asymptomatic lesions can be observed for progression. A progressive deformity, enlarged lesions with pain and functional loss, non-union, or malignant change are all indications for surgery in these cases [8]. Although small focal lesions can be treated with cancellous bone grafts and curettage, local recurrence remains a problem. The process of creeping substitution, depending on the local healing response of the bone, involves the resorption of the bone graft and newly formed host bone [3]. In FD, autologous cancellous bone grafts undergo resorption and replacement with the same type of poorly formed woven bone, and thus recurrence occurs, which may lead to fracture and deformity. Kokkalis et al. reported two cases of pathological fracture around the elbow due to FD being treated successfully with cancellous bone allograft after curettage. Both patients achieved excellent ROM and were pain-free without any recurrences [1]. The use of cortical strut grafts for the management of FD lesions has been cited in the literature [8]. Vascularized autologous cortical bone does not weaken as it does not undergo resorption. It is remodeled in a fashion similar to normal bone and is a superior graft compared to its non-vascularized counterpart [8]. According to one of the studies, FD and other benign lesions of the proximal femur can be treated safely and effectively with non-vascularized fibular cortical strut autografts [9]. In a study by Kumta et al., eight patients were treated for the upper limb FD with vascularized bone grafting [10].

Through this case report, we aim to describe an innovative approach to managing fibrous dysplastic lesion of radius bone using a non-vascularized fibular cortical strut graft. To the best of our knowledge, this has not been reported earlier, although fibular cortical strut graft has been used to treat fibrous dysplastic lesions of the proximal femur. We did not use any implant as we felt a tightly fitting cortical graft supported by external means would heal without displacement. Second, due to the short proximal fragment of the radius, no implant could provide any type of stability there. We admit that the distal end of the graft could have been stabilized by an intramedullary nail or a plate. Our technique thus avoided the use of an implant to fix the graft to the parent bone. It showed that a tightly fitted cortical graft is stable enough to incorporate with the original bone without deformation and pathological fracture, provided the forearm is protected till complete union is confirmed. No complication was observed postoperatively. The length of the forearm along with the range of motion was maintained including supination and pronation of the forearm. The hand and elbow function returned to the original pre-operative status.

Non-vascularized fibular cortical strut grafting is an effective treatment modality for FD of the radius bone. External or internal fixation is not necessary if a tightly fitting cortical graft is jammed into the defect caused by lesion excision with complete osseointegration and no recurrence of FD.