Treatment of benign bone defects in children with silicate-substituted calcium phosphate (SiCaP).

Background: In children with benign bone defects, various treatment options are recommended. Whether these defects should be curetted, osteosynthetically stabilized and/or filled with allogenic or synthetic bone material is still a matter of controversy.

Methods: The reported study presents preliminary results of five children with benign bone lesions of the lower extremity. Curettage and filling of the defect with a commercially available silicate-substituted calcium phosphate (SiCaP) (Actifuse® by ApaTech Ltd., Elstree, United Kingdom) was performed. Patients were followed-up in the outpatient clinic. The healing process was assessed according to the clinical and radiological criteria.

Results: Clinical and radiological follow-up showed uneventful healing without intraoperative and short-term complications. All patients were capable of full weight bearing after a few weeks and currently did not experience any decreased range of movement among adjacent joints. Growth disturbances did not occur. In all patients increasing cancellous bone reconstruction of the defect, without signs of osteolysis could be shown radiologically.

Conclusion: SiCaP represents a good and safe alternative to hitherto existing therapies in the management of defined symptomatic benign bone defects in the pediatric age group.