Tibial deformities caused by focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia: a narrative review

Focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia (FFCD) of the tibia is a rare but well-recognised, “tumour-like” condition that primarily involves the proximal tibia and causes tibial deformities. Tibial FFCD affects infants and toddlers, and deformations are typically discovered when they begin to walk. The exa...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dimitri Fasel, Elio Paris, Victor Aye, Maxime Pilloux, Giacomo De Marco, Oscar Vazquez, Christina Steiger, Romain Dayer, Nathaly Gavira, Dimitri Ceroni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1584512/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850279130674757632
author Dimitri Fasel
Elio Paris
Victor Aye
Maxime Pilloux
Giacomo De Marco
Oscar Vazquez
Christina Steiger
Romain Dayer
Nathaly Gavira
Dimitri Ceroni
author_facet Dimitri Fasel
Elio Paris
Victor Aye
Maxime Pilloux
Giacomo De Marco
Oscar Vazquez
Christina Steiger
Romain Dayer
Nathaly Gavira
Dimitri Ceroni
author_sort Dimitri Fasel
collection DOAJ
description Focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia (FFCD) of the tibia is a rare but well-recognised, “tumour-like” condition that primarily involves the proximal tibia and causes tibial deformities. Tibial FFCD affects infants and toddlers, and deformations are typically discovered when they begin to walk. The exact aetiology of FFCD remains unclear, even though several pathophysiological hypotheses have been proposed. It is thought that FFCD's natural course is towards spontaneous resolution within a few months or years, although there is occasionally some initial worsening before the correction begins. FFCD's radiographical appearance is so explicit and pathognomonic that no biopsy is required. Conservative management is considered the gold standard treatment for this condition. However, if the deformity worsens, persists over a longer period or is severe enough (greater than 30°), then surgical treatment may be indicated. This narrative review summarises more than 40 years of observations of patients with tibial FFCD, discusses its aetiology and revises information on its pathogenesis, clinical features, radiographical and histological characteristics, and treatment.
format Article
id doaj-art-426c55d9e8564deebcfe5621ee893ea9
institution OA Journals
issn 2296-2360
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pediatrics
spelling doaj-art-426c55d9e8564deebcfe5621ee893ea92025-08-20T01:49:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602025-05-011310.3389/fped.2025.15845121584512Tibial deformities caused by focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia: a narrative reviewDimitri Fasel0Elio Paris1Victor Aye2Maxime Pilloux3Giacomo De Marco4Oscar Vazquez5Christina Steiger6Romain Dayer7Nathaly Gavira8Dimitri Ceroni9Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandFaculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandFaculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandFaculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandPediatric Orthopedics Unit, Pediatric Surgery Service, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, SwitzerlandPediatric Orthopedics Unit, Pediatric Surgery Service, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, SwitzerlandPediatric Orthopedics Unit, Pediatric Surgery Service, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, SwitzerlandPediatric Orthopedics Unit, Pediatric Surgery Service, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, SwitzerlandPediatric Orthopedics Unit, Pediatric Surgery Service, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, SwitzerlandPediatric Orthopedics Unit, Pediatric Surgery Service, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, SwitzerlandFocal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia (FFCD) of the tibia is a rare but well-recognised, “tumour-like” condition that primarily involves the proximal tibia and causes tibial deformities. Tibial FFCD affects infants and toddlers, and deformations are typically discovered when they begin to walk. The exact aetiology of FFCD remains unclear, even though several pathophysiological hypotheses have been proposed. It is thought that FFCD's natural course is towards spontaneous resolution within a few months or years, although there is occasionally some initial worsening before the correction begins. FFCD's radiographical appearance is so explicit and pathognomonic that no biopsy is required. Conservative management is considered the gold standard treatment for this condition. However, if the deformity worsens, persists over a longer period or is severe enough (greater than 30°), then surgical treatment may be indicated. This narrative review summarises more than 40 years of observations of patients with tibial FFCD, discusses its aetiology and revises information on its pathogenesis, clinical features, radiographical and histological characteristics, and treatment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1584512/fullfocalfibrocartilaginousdysplasiatibiametaphysissclerosis
spellingShingle Dimitri Fasel
Elio Paris
Victor Aye
Maxime Pilloux
Giacomo De Marco
Oscar Vazquez
Christina Steiger
Romain Dayer
Nathaly Gavira
Dimitri Ceroni
Tibial deformities caused by focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia: a narrative review
Frontiers in Pediatrics
focal
fibrocartilaginous
dysplasia
tibia
metaphysis
sclerosis
title Tibial deformities caused by focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia: a narrative review
title_full Tibial deformities caused by focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia: a narrative review
title_fullStr Tibial deformities caused by focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia: a narrative review
title_full_unstemmed Tibial deformities caused by focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia: a narrative review
title_short Tibial deformities caused by focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia: a narrative review
title_sort tibial deformities caused by focal fibrocartilaginous dysplasia a narrative review
topic focal
fibrocartilaginous
dysplasia
tibia
metaphysis
sclerosis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1584512/full
work_keys_str_mv AT dimitrifasel tibialdeformitiescausedbyfocalfibrocartilaginousdysplasiaanarrativereview
AT elioparis tibialdeformitiescausedbyfocalfibrocartilaginousdysplasiaanarrativereview
AT victoraye tibialdeformitiescausedbyfocalfibrocartilaginousdysplasiaanarrativereview
AT maximepilloux tibialdeformitiescausedbyfocalfibrocartilaginousdysplasiaanarrativereview
AT giacomodemarco tibialdeformitiescausedbyfocalfibrocartilaginousdysplasiaanarrativereview
AT oscarvazquez tibialdeformitiescausedbyfocalfibrocartilaginousdysplasiaanarrativereview
AT christinasteiger tibialdeformitiescausedbyfocalfibrocartilaginousdysplasiaanarrativereview
AT romaindayer tibialdeformitiescausedbyfocalfibrocartilaginousdysplasiaanarrativereview
AT nathalygavira tibialdeformitiescausedbyfocalfibrocartilaginousdysplasiaanarrativereview
AT dimitriceroni tibialdeformitiescausedbyfocalfibrocartilaginousdysplasiaanarrativereview