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Fracture through unicameral bone cyst

Case contributed by Jeremy Jones
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Fall during a football match. Left hip pain.

Patient Data

Age: 10 years
Gender: Male

Fracture of the left proximal femur with displacement and angulation.  The underlying bone is not normal and this is therefore a pathological fracture.

The lytic lesion through which the fracture has occurred is a unicameral bone cyst.

Case Discussion

To fracture a normal bone in this area would be very unusual in a child of this age.  The lytic lesion at the site of fracture is typical for a unicameral bone cyst.  

Since the fracture involves both sides of the femur a fallen fragment cannot be relied upon to make the diagnosis.

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