Abstract
Abstract
Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica is a rare osteochondral proliferative lesion in children. It is uncommon when located in the medial femoral condyle, and clinically, it is prone to misdiagnosis. Here, we report a case of a 9-year-old boy who presented with right knee pain and restricted range of motion induced by trauma. Preoperative multimodal imaging, including digital radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, revealed complex features such as articular cartilage defects, bone marrow edema, and lobulated osseous prominences, requiring differential diagnosis from osteochondritis dissecans and bone tumors. The patient underwent surgical resection of the lesion on the medial femoral condyle of the right femur, and postoperative pathology confirmed the diagnosis of DEH. A 1.5-year post-operative DR follow-up meticulously documented the entire progression of the resected region, transitioning from early bone defect to mid-term bone remodeling, and ultimately to the complete recovery of the anatomical contour in the long term. This case indicates that the integration of multimodal imaging with pathological evaluation facilitates early and precise diagnosis of DEH. For symptomatic pediatric patients with articular involvement, surgical intervention can fully leverage the self-remodeling capacity of pediatric epiphyses, thereby yielding excellent mid- to long-term clinical outcomes.