Epiphyseal Chondroblastoma of the Femoral Head Treated with Joint-preserving Curettage without Dislocation: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Chondroblastoma is a rare benign bone tumor of cartilaginous origin, and its occurrence in the femoral head is particularly uncommon. We report the case of a 20-year-old female who presented with progressive left hip pain, with imaging revealing a well-defined, lobulated osteolytic lesion extending from the femoral head to the proximal neck. She underwent intralesional curettage via the direct anterior approach (DAA), combined with adjuvant cryotherapy, bone grafting, and internal fixation using the femoral neck system – all performed without hip dislocation. Histopathological analysis confirmed chondroblastoma, and the postoperative course was uneventful. At follow-up, the patient regained full, pain-free hip motion without evidence of recurrence, avascular necrosis, or hardware-related complications. This case demonstrates that a joint-preserving DAA approach can achieve excellent oncologic control and functional outcomes in femoral head chondroblastoma.