{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T10:13:24Z","timestamp":1791195204997,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,5]],"date-time":"2026-03-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772668800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Pediatr."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Unicameral bone cysts (UBCs) are benign, fluid-filled lesions that predominantly occur in the long bones of children and adolescents. Although histologically non-neoplastic, these cysts can weaken bone structure and predispose patients to pathological fractures. Despite extensive research, the optimal management of UBCs remains controversial. Current treatment strategies\u2014ranging from simple observation to minimally invasive procedures and open surgery\u2014lack standardized guidelines, and clinical decisions are often driven by lesion activity, fracture risk, and surgeon experience. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of pediatric UBCs, with particular emphasis on their etiology, natural history, and the evolution of management strategies. It summarizes major therapeutic approaches while focusing on their underlying rationale rather than technical details. By integrating current evidence and expert perspectives, this review highlights existing challenges and aims to assist clinicians in formulating individualized, evidence-based treatment plans that optimize both safety and long-term functional outcomes in affected children.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fped.2026.1753597","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,5]],"date-time":"2026-03-05T06:55:06Z","timestamp":1772693706000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Management strategies and outcomes of pediatric unicameral bone cyst: a narrative review"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Juntao","family":"Ge","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Pediatric Drug Development","place":["Jinan, Shandong, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kaixuan","family":"Tian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital","place":["Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"508","DOI":"10.1302\/0301-620X.106B5.BJJ-2023-0577.R4","article-title":"Surgical management of proximal femoral unicameral bone cyst in children","author":"Maximen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Bone Joint J"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jocn.2020.10.038","article-title":"Primary aneurysmal bone cyst of sacrum for adolescent: eleven cases experience and literature review","volume":"82","author":"Wang","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Clin Neurosci"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e22.00248","DOI":"10.5435\/JAAOSGlobal-D-22-00248","article-title":"Management of calcaneal cysts in the pediatric population: a review","volume":"7","author":"Gottlich","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.5435\/00124635-200007000-00002","article-title":"Unicameral bone cysts","volume":"8","author":"Wilkins","year":"2000","journal-title":"J Am Acad Orthop Surg"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1493","DOI":"10.2106\/00004623-197052070-00030","article-title":"Etiology of simple bone cyst","volume":"52","author":"Cohen","year":"1970","journal-title":"J Bone Joint Surg Am"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"262","DOI":"10.1097\/01202412-199810000-00004","article-title":"Simple bone cyst: etiology, classification, pathology, and treatment modalities","volume":"7","author":"Lokiec","year":"1998","journal-title":"J Pediatr Orthop B"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"455","DOI":"10.1007\/s004029900082","article-title":"Development of a solitary bone cyst\u2013a report of a case suggesting its pathogenesis","volume":"120","author":"Komiya","year":"2000","journal-title":"Arch Orthop Trauma Surg"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"633","DOI":"10.1302\/0301-620X.65B5.6643570","article-title":"The aetiology and treatment of simple bone cysts","author":"Chigira","year":"1983","journal-title":"J Bone Joint Surg Br"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1016\/0165-4608(95)00156-5","article-title":"Complex cytogenetic rearrangement in a case of unicameral bone cyst","volume":"86","author":"Vayego","year":"1996","journal-title":"Cancer Genet Cytogenet"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1016\/S0165-4608(02)00563-0","article-title":"Translocation (16;20)(p11.2;q13). sole cytogenetic abnormality in a unicameral bone cyst","volume":"137","author":"Richkind","year":"2002","journal-title":"Cancer Genet Cytogenet"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"234","DOI":"10.1177\/03635465241235947","article-title":"Common benign bone lesions and return to sports: a case report and scoping review","volume":"53","author":"Kafchinski","year":"2025","journal-title":"Am J Sports Med"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1007\/s11832-010-0323-1","article-title":"Distance from the growth plate and its relation to the outcome of unicameral bone cyst treatment","volume":"5","author":"Haidar","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Child Orthop"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"275","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00268511","article-title":"Unicameral bone cysts. 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