Ollier’s disease presenting as progressive finger stiffness in an adolescent: surgical management of a dominant enchondroma with one-year follow-up in a resource-limited setting

Abstract

Ollier’s disease is a rare non-hereditary skeletal disorder characterized by multiple enchondromas that may result in deformity and functional impairment. We report a case of a 13-year-old left-hand-dominant boy presenting with progressive stiffness of the left index finger over two years, leading to difficulty in daily activities. Clinical and radiological evaluation revealed multiple enchondromas, with a dominant lesion in the middle phalanx. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a well-defined lobulated lesion without aggressive features. Histopathological examination confirmed benign enchondroma. Given the functional limitation, surgical curettage of the dominant lesion was performed using a dorsal approach without bone grafting. Postoperative rehabilitation included short-term immobilization followed by physiotherapy. At one-year follow-up, the patient showed significant improvement in grip strength (from 40–50% to 80–85% of the contralateral hand) and near-normal range of motion, with no evidence of recurrence or malignant transformation. This case highlights the importance of early surgical intervention in symptomatic cases, particularly involving the dominant hand, and demonstrates that satisfactory functional outcomes can be achieved even in resource-limited settings.