A retrospective review of twenty-one patients with Ollier's disease
showed that the lesion involved the femur and tibia most frequently, and
that those bones accounted for the large majority of clinical problems.
Angular deformities were common; 80 per cent of the affected femora had
clinically significant varus or valgus angulation in the distal part and 42
per cent of the affected tibiae had proximal or distal deformity. The apex
of the angulation, when present, was metaphyseal, with the concavity on the
side that was more extensively involved by the enchondromas. Osteotomies
were done frequently to correct angulation; all healed well. Deformity in
the distal part of the femur frequently required repeat osteotomy to
achieve a straight bone at skeletal maturity, The extent of shortening,
which always was present in the involved limb, closely paralleled the
extent of involvement, The discrepancies in limb lengths prior to surgical
treatment averaged 9.8 centimeters (range, 4.3 to 35.7 centimeters).
Epiphyseal arrest, when appropriately timed, was effective in correcting or
limiting the discrepancies, but partial (medial or lateral) epiphyseal
arrest to correct angular deformity was ineffective. Diaphyseal lengthening
was done on six occasions, once in the femur and five times in the tibia
and fibula, with good results. Fourteen pathological fractures occurred in
seven of the twenty-one patients, and all healed uneventfully with
conservative treatment.