Spontaneously Healed Pathologic Fracture over a Critical-Size Calcaneal Cyst

Abstract

Simple bone cysts are nonsymptomatic lesions. They typically involve the medullary cavity, but they can also be found in nonlong bones such as the calcaneum. Their treatment remains controversial varying from observation and conservative healing to irritating injections or bone grafting. In the case of a pathologic fracture, surgical treatment seems most appropriate especially when the cyst is situated on a weight-bearing bone. We present herein the rare case of a spontaneously healed pathological fracture over a critical-size calcaneal cyst of a patient reluctant to undergo surgical treatment. An interpretation of the healing procedure as well as a review of the literature is presented.