Osteochondroma of the fifth metacarpal bone in mature person: a case report

 

 Buy Article Permissions and Reprints

Introduction

Benign tumors of the bones in the hand are relatively rare. The most common, accounting for about 90% of all bone lesions in the hand is enchondroma, and less common are giant-cell bone tumour and osteoid osteoma [1]. All these tumors grow inside the bone and cause a change in its contour only when they reach a significant size. Osteochondroma, also known as a “cartilage and bone outgrowth” or “exostosis”, is a rare in adults, although it is fairly common in paediatric population [2] [3]. This is due to the fact that it develops within the growing bones. Solitary osteochondromas occur in the metaphyses of the long bones, and less often in other bones. The most common location is the distal metaphysis of the femur, the proximal metaphysis of the tibia and the proximal metaphysis of the humerus. They occur less common in hand bones.

The starting point of bone growth is the growth cartilage, and the tumour itself consists of a cartilage and bone component. Clinically, it presents in a form of painless protrusions palpable in the immediate vicinity of the epiphysis. The most common location in the hand is the distal part of the metacarpal bones and the proximal parts of the phalanges, where the growth cartilage is located [3]. The diagnosis is made on the basis of the clinical picture and X-ray. These lesions tend to disappear with age, as the bones mature, so they are rarely indication for surgical treatment, practically only when they cause discomfort or disturb the function. In children, osteochondromas localized intraarticularly may cause angulation in the finger long axis and then they need resection, followed by correction of deformity.

In this paper we report a case of osteochondroma localized in the distal part of the fifth metacarpal bone in a 56 year-old woman. At this age this lesion is very rare and therefore we decided to submit this case.

Publication History

Article published online:
03 July 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

• References

• 1 Zyluk A, Owczarska A. Outcomes of surgery for benign tumours in the upper extremity. Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir 2023; 55: 344-349
  Thieme ConnectPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
• 2 Kwon HY, Kang HJ. Trigger finger due to phalangeal osteochondroma of an adult: A case report. J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong) 2020; 28: 2309499020969991
  CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
• 3 Hao Y, Guo JC, Wang XL. et al. Phalangeal intra-articular osteochondroma caused a rare clinodactyly deformity in children: case series and literature review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12: 677245
  CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
• 4 Baek GH, Rhee SH, Chung MS. et al. Solitary intra-articular osteochondroma of the finger. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2010; 92: 1137-1143
  CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar