TITLE:
Pathological Fractures Revealing Brown Tumors: A Case Report SCARE
AUTHORS:
Adébola Padonou, Steve Ondoa, Oswald Goukodadja, Romaric Beheton, Angebault M. Jean Marie, Dave Ateba, Fawanou Dadjo, Pascal Chigblo, Aristote Hans-Moevi
KEYWORDS:
Benign Tumor, Bone Lesion, Endocrinopathy
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Orthopedics,
Vol.16 No.10,
October
22,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Brown tumor is a benign clinical entity occurring as a rare skeletal manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism. It is an unusual cause of pathological fractures. We report the case of a 37-year-old female patient who presented with pathological fractures due to brown tumors secondary to primary hyperparathyroidism. Case presentation: A 37-year-old housewife, with a Parker score of 9, was admitted to the emergency department for pain and complete inability to use both lower limbs following a fall from standing height. Both Clinical examinations and imaging revealed bilateral fractures of the trochanteric regions, with an X-ray appearance suggestive of a pathological lesion. Her medical history included a facial tumor that had been evolving for three years without specific management. Biochemical and hormonal investigations revealed hypercalcemia at 129 mg/L and elevated parathyroid hormone levels at 332.43 pg/mL. Cervical ultrasound revealed a right parathyroid adenoma. We concluded that these were probable brown tumors secondary to primary hyperparathyroidism. The patient underwent osteosynthesis with long gamma nails for both fracture sites and parathyroidectomy with histopathological examination, the results of which confirmed the diagnostic hypothesis. Conclusion: Brown tumors are benign bone lesions secondary to hyperparathyroidism. Fractures are rarely the presenting manifestation of this endocrinopathy. Management of hyperparathyroidism is the cornerstone of treatment of this pathological entity.