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An iliac cyst
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Os ilium – the ilium is considered one of the largest, biggest and strongest bones of the human skeleton. In fact, there are two of them – the right and left iliac bones, they are located at the top of the pelvic bone. Both bones belong to the paired group and have the same size. In structure, they also do not differ from each other, each consists of a wing and a body. An iliac bone cyst can form in any area, but most often it is diagnosed in the wing, since it is more subject to stress, connecting with the sacrum and pelvic bone by the ear.
Solitary and aneurysmal cysts can develop in the ilium, doctors note that SCC is more often detected in children under 15-16 years of age, aneurysmal - in adult patients. Older patients may also complain of symptoms similar to those of a bone cyst, but these symptoms are more likely to relate to other specific osteopathologies.
[ Symptoms of iliac bone cyst
An iliac bone cyst can develop latently for several years, occasionally manifesting itself as aching pain in the pelvic area. The most typical symptom of a cyst is a bone fracture, which can occur spontaneously or from a small blow or fall.
Symptoms of a fracture:
- Sudden pain in the pelvic area, in the buttocks area.
- Swelling in the area of injury.
- The pain intensifies when moving the leg.
- Decreased leg function, decreased range of motion.
- Internal bleeding and hematoma in the upper thigh area are possible.
- In children, the abdominal muscles tense up as a compensatory response.
Treatment of iliac bone cyst
Osilium cyst is treated surgically in 60-70% of cases; conservative treatment is not only ineffective, but may also carry the risk of active cyst growth and pathological fracture. A large cyst is subject to removal, resection is performed using an accessible method, filling the excised part of the tissue with a bone allograft. The graft is placed vertically to strengthen not only the bone, but also to prevent protrusion of the femoral head. The wound surface is sutured layer by layer; after the incision has healed, the suture is almost invisible. Remodeling of the ilium is slow, but with the availability of modern filling osteomaterials, tissue restoration has a favorable outcome.
If a fracture has occurred, then in most cases, small patients and adolescents experience a decrease in the size of the tumor and its disappearance. In such situations, the following actions are indicated:
- The patient should remain in bed during the entire treatment, and immediately after the fracture try to lie down.
- Lying position - a small cushion under the knees.
- In the hospital, anesthesia and immobilization (splint or cast) of the leg are performed for a month.
- After 4-5 weeks, the plaster is removed and a control examination is carried out, showing the condition of the cyst and bone tissue.
- If the cyst has collapsed, physiotherapy treatment, massage and exercise therapy are prescribed.
Complete restoration of normal leg functions is possible 3-6 months after the start of treatment.