Ribbing disease of tibia: a rare entity

Establishing the cause of unilateral leg pain is difficult in the settings of tibial diaphyseal sclerosis. This patient, a 36-year-old woman presented with unilateral pretibial leg pain for past 7 months without history of trauma, infections, systemic or metabolic disease. Besides local deep tenderness, other clinical findings and blood investigations were normal. Radiograph and CT scan showed both periosteal and endosteal cortical thickening with obliteration of medulla of the tibial midshaft. MRI scan detected marrow oedema and bone scan revealed increased tracer uptake at the affected site of tibia. She was treated by saucerisation and re-establishment of the medullary canal. Biopsy of the harvested tissue had trabecular bone without any sign of inflammation. Patient was pain free after 3 months of operation and was able to perform her activity of daily living without any difficulties. Ribbing disease is a disease of exclusion and need high degree of suspicion for its diagnosis.