Successful treatment of bilateral calcaneal intraosseous lipomas using endoscopically assisted tumor resection

Abstract

Background: Intraosseous lipoma is a rare benign bone tumor. Removal is required when there is pain or the lesion is large enough to lead to a pathological fracture. However, conventional surgery requires non-weight-bearing for at least 6 weeks. Here, we present a case with bilateral calcaneal intraosseous lipomas successfully treated by the use of endoscopically assisted curettage.

Case presentation: A 30-year-old female noted pain in both heels for 1 year. Radiological findings revealed well-defined lytic lesions at the neck of both calcanei. Magnetic resonance (MR) images showed hyper-intense signals on the T1 and T2 sequences. Curettage was performed through small bone fenestrations in the medial and lateral aspects under observation with a 2.7-mm-diameter Hopkins telescope. The bone void was filled with beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP). Full weight-bearing was permitted the day after the surgery.

Conclusion: Endoscopically assisted curettage is feasible in patients with benign bone tumors of the calcanei to avoid a long period of non-weightbearing post-operatively.