RT Journal
A1 Gong, Hyun Sik
A1 Lee, Kyung Hak
A1 Oh, Joo Han
A1 Chung, Jin-Haeng
A1 Baek, Goo Hyun
A1 Chung, Moon Sang
T1 Successful Elbow Contracture Release Secondary to MelorheostosisA Case Report
JF The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
JO The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
YR 2008
FD May 1
VO 90
IS 5
SP 1106
OP 1111
DO 10.2106/JBJS.G.00961
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.G.00961
AB 
Melorheostosis is a rare, noninheritable developmental dysplasia of cortical bone that is often characterized by a classic radiographic pattern of flowing hyperostosis along the cortex of long bones1. Patients with this condition may have joint pain, stiffness, deformity, and restricted range of motion due to soft-tissue contracture2. Involvement usually follows a sclerotomal distribution3 and usually affects only one extremity4,5. Joint contracture occurs when the abnormal ossification in the cortex of the long bone involves the soft tissues and extends into the joint, resulting in soft-tissue fibrosis and contracture2,5,6. There is no specific treatment for this condition; options range from nonsurgical management (e.g., splinting and early training in making optimal use of the unaffected extremity) to various types of surgical management (e.g., tendon lengthening, sympathectomy, implant arthroplasty, or even amputation2. The literature indicates that surgical release of a joint contracture may be difficult and that recurrence of the deformity is frequent2,4-6.