Bilateral Tibial Fibrous Dysplasia in a Pediatric Patient treated with Intramedullary Nailing

Abstract

Fibrous dysplasia is a benign developmental disorder of bone in which fibrous connective tissue containing abnormal bone with irregular trabeculae replaces normal cancellous bone. It may affect 1 (monostotic) or multiple bones (polyostotic). Polyostotic disease is the less common of the 2, occurring in only 20 to 25% of fibrous dysplasia patients and tending to affect those who are younger than 10 years of age; patients having this form tend to experience bone enlargement beyond normal skeletal maturation, which can cause pain, progressive damage, and increased risk of pathological fracture. There are limited reports of bilateral involvement in fibrous dysplasia, with said involvement presenting most frequently in early childhood. We describe the rare case of an adolescent presenting with bilateral fibrous dysplasia in the tibial diaphysis (in the exact same location) that was successfully treated with bilateral intramedullary nailing of both tibias.