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Case Reports
. 2020 Mar-Apr;11(2):321-323.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcot.2019.06.009. Epub 2019 Jun 11.

Melorheostosis of upper limb: A report of four rare cases

Sanjeev Kumar  1 , Vijay Kumar Jain  1 , Rahul Prabhakar  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Melorheostosis of upper limb: A report of four rare cases

Sanjeev Kumar et al. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2020 Mar-Apr.

Erratum in

  • Erratum regarding previously published articles.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2020 Nov-Dec;11(6):1169-1171. doi: 10.1016/j.jcot.2020.09.032. Epub 2020 Sep 26. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2020. PMID: 33013141 Free PMC article.
  • Erratum regarding previously published articles.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2021 Aug 5;21:101557. doi: 10.1016/j.jcot.2021.101557. eCollection 2021 Oct. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2021. PMID: 34414071 Free PMC article.

Abstract

Melorheostosis is a rare chronic bone disease, etiology of which remains unclear. It mostly affects lower limbs and clinical features vary in each case. Radiographs show characteristic "candle wax pattern" of hyperostosis. Herein we report four cases of upper limb affection with their symptoms, radiographic findings and treatment. First case presented with gradually progressive swelling in forearm which was initially misdiagnosed as filariasis. Plain radiograph eventually demonstrated melorheostosis of ulna. Second patient had deformity of index finger and pain in hand which was diagnosed on radiograph of hand. Third case presented with progressive flexion deformity of ring and little finger. Fourth patient had ulnar involvement which was an incidental diagnosis. First three patients were managed with bisphosphonates following which there was significant improvement in pain and fourth case was kept on follow-up as he was asymptomatic.

Keywords: Bisphosphonates; Fingers; Melorheostosis; Ulna; Zolendronic acid.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Plain radiograph forearm showed sclerosis of underlying ulna bone in a characteristic “candle wax pattern”.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Plain radiograph of hand showed sclerosis of underlying bones.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Clinical photograph of third case showing deformity of index finger.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Plain radiograph of hand of third case showed sclerosis of underlying bones in a “candle wax pattern”.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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