Orthopedic Reviews (Jun 2014)

Elastofibroma: clinical results after resection of a rare tumor entity

  • Hakan Pilge,
  • Tobias Hesper,
  • Boris Michael Holzapfel,
  • Peter Michael Prodinger,
  • Melanie Straub,
  • Rüdiger Krauspe

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/or.2014.5329
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 2

Abstract

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Elastofibroma (EF) is a benign proliferation of connective tissue and is typically located at the dorsal thoracic wall. Most patients complain about pain during motion in the shoulder girdle. The aim of our study was to evaluate the outcome after surgical treatment of EF. This study provides an overview of typical clinical findings, diagnostics and pathogenesis of this rare entity. In this retrospective study we analyzed data of 12 patients (6 male, 6 female) with EF treated in our institution between 2004 and 2012. The mean follow-up was 4.7 years (range: 5 months to 7.5 years). All tumors were found to be unilateral and all patients had a negative medical history for EF. Visual analogue scale and range of motion (ROM) was documented pre- and postoperatively. In all patients indication for surgical resection was pain or uneasiness during movement. There was no statistically significant difference in ROM of the shoulder between pre- and postoperatively but all patients reported significantly less pain after surgical resection. Patients benefited from tumor resection by a significant reduction of pain levels and improvement of the motion-dependent discomfort.

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