Whole body

What It Is

An osteochondroma (also called an osteocartilaginous exostosis) is a benign (noncancerous) bone tumour (AAOS, n.d.; Reif and Hoellwarth, 2022). It is an abnormal growth made of bone and cartilage that forms on the surface of a bone, near the growth plate, during childhood or adolescence (AAOS, n.d.). A single (solitary) osteochondroma is thought to be the most common benign bone tumour (AAOS, n.d.). As a child grows, the osteochondroma may grow larger too, but it usually stops growing once the child has finished growing (AAOS, n.d.).

Benign tumours are not cancer and do not spread to other parts of the body. Very rarely, an osteochondroma can change into a cancer called chondrosarcoma. The lifetime risk of this is less than 1% for a single osteochondroma, and about 10% for people with many osteochondromas, a condition called multiple hereditary exostosis (AAOS, n.d.). This change usually does not happen in children (AAOS, n.d.).

Osteochondroma Anatomy

To gain a better understanding of an osteochondroma, it helps to understand bone anatomy. The skeleton is a living structure that supports the entire body. Bones are made of an outer shell of dense bone surrounding a honeycomb structure of softer bone. In children, the long bones grow from growth plates, areas of developing cartilage near the ends of the bones, which harden into solid bone when growth is complete (AAOS, n.d.). An osteochondroma forms when bone grows out from the growth plate instead of in line with it. It may stick out on a stalk (pedunculated) or sit on a broader base (sessile) (AAOS, n.d.).

Two sections make up the human skeleton (National Cancer Institute, n.d.)

Axial skeleton – The axial skeleton has 80 bones in total, including the skull, spine and chest.
Appendicular skeleton – This skeleton has 126 bones, including the limbs, hands and feet, and the shoulder and pelvic girdles that attach them.

How Do You Know If You Have an Osteochondroma?

Many osteochondromas cause no symptoms and are found by chance on an X-ray taken for another reason. They are most often diagnosed between the ages of 10 and 30 (AAOS, n.d.). Symptoms can include (AAOS, n.d.; Reif and Hoellwarth, 2022):

a hard, painless bump near a joint, most often the knee or shoulder
pain with activity, if a tendon snaps over the bump or the fluid-filled sac covering it (bursa) becomes inflamed
numbness or tingling, if it presses on a nerve
rarely, changes in blood flow, such as a change in colour of the limb, if it presses on a blood vessel
sudden pain and swelling after an injury, if the stalk of the growth breaks

If the arm or leg near the lump suddenly changes colour or loses feeling, call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital.

See your family doctor or nurse practitioner if an osteochondroma grows after you (or your child) have finished growing, or if it becomes painful, as it should be checked by a bone tumour specialist (AAOS, n.d.; Reif and Hoellwarth, 2022).

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

How Your Osteochondroma May Be Treated

1. Observation

In most cases, the only treatment needed is careful monitoring over time, with regular X-rays to check for any changes (AAOS, n.d.). There is no medication for osteochondroma (Reif and Hoellwarth, 2022).

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Options outside my scope

Surgery to remove it (excision): may be considered if the osteochondroma is painful, presses on a nerve or blood vessel, limits joint movement, or shows signs in an adult that it may be changing into cancer; doctors often prefer to wait until a child has finished growing, to reduce the chance of it coming back (AAOS, n.d.; Reif and Hoellwarth, 2022).
Scans: an X-ray shows the bony growth, and an MRI or CT scan can give more detail, including the thickness of its cartilage cap (AAOS, n.d.).
Surgery to straighten bones: for people with multiple osteochondromas whose bones are growing unevenly, an operation such as guided growth may be used (AAOS, n.d.).

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

Hands-on work for the muscles and tendons around the lump, without pressing on it
Exercises to keep nearby joints moving and strong
Recovery care after surgery, once your surgeon agrees

Tips

An osteochondroma is not caused by injury. Because the cause is unknown, there is no known way to prevent it (AAOS, n.d.).
If you or your child have several bony bumps, tell your doctor. Multiple hereditary exostosis often runs in families (AAOS, n.d.).
Any growth of an osteochondroma in adulthood should be checked by a doctor (Reif and Hoellwarth, 2022).
If you are being monitored, keep going to your follow-up appointments and X-rays.
If you have surgery, recovery time depends on the size and position of the growth, so follow your surgeon's own instructions (AAOS, n.d.).

Treatment

My Approach

Your doctor and, where needed, a bone specialist decide whether an osteochondroma just needs watching or should be removed. Massage can't shrink or remove it, but I can help with the aches, tight muscles and stiffness that can come with it. After surgery, I need your surgeon's okay before hands-on treatment.

Please bring any X-ray or scan reports and notes from your medical team to your first visit. They're an important part of planning safe treatment for you.

I assess how the nearby joint moves, your strength, and how the lump sits among the muscles and tendons around it.

While It's Being Monitored

Hands-on work around the lump, never pressing on it
Easing muscles whose tendons snap over the bump
Warm or cool applications in the clinic, and I'll show you how to use ice safely at home
Exercises to keep the nearby joint moving and strong

After Surgery

Lymphatic drainage for swelling, and scar work once the wound has healed
Rebuilding movement and strength step by step

Parents are welcome to sit in, with their child's agreement. If the lump grows or becomes painful, see your family doctor or nurse practitioner; if the limb near it suddenly changes colour or loses feeling, call 911.

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: While it's being monitored, most people come every week or two when it's sore, then less often. After surgery, once your surgeon agrees, visits are usually once or twice a week, then weekly, then spaced out, with a reassessment at about 4 to 6 weeks; recovery time depends on the size and position of the growth.

What I Focus On

Working Within Your Team's Plan

Muscle & Tendon Release

Joint Mobility & Strength

Scar & Swelling Care

Gradual Return to Activity

Sources

References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) (n.d.) Osteochondroma. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/osteochondroma/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Reif, T.J. and Hoellwarth, J.S. (2022) Osteochondroma: types, causes, symptoms and treatments. Hospital for Special Surgery. Available at: https://www.hss.edu/health-library/conditions-and-treatments/osteochondroma-types-causes-symptoms-treatments (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
National Cancer Institute (n.d.) Divisions of the skeleton. SEER Training Modules. Available at: https://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/skeletal/divisions/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooOsteochondroma

What It Is

Osteochondroma Anatomy

How Do You Know If You Have an Osteochondroma?

Self-Care & Treatment

How Your Osteochondroma May Be Treated

1. Observation

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Tips

My Approach

While It's Being Monitored

After Surgery

Typical Course

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooOsteochondroma

What It Is

Osteochondroma Anatomy

How Do You Know If You Have an Osteochondroma?

Self-Care & Treatment

How Your Osteochondroma May Be Treated

1. Observation

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Tips

My Approach

While It's Being Monitored

After Surgery

Typical Course

References

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Anterior Wedge Fracture to the Vertebra

Bone Tumor

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Book a session