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PubMed This is a summary of 14 peer-reviewed journal articles Updated
Orthopedics

Is There Medication to Shrink Multiple Osteochondromas?

At a Glance

Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications, pills, or injections that can shrink or cure multiple osteochondromas. Because these bumps are made of solid bone and cartilage, surgical removal is the only way to get rid of them if they cause pain, press on nerves, or affect bone growth.

In this answer

2 sections

01

Why Surgery is the Standard of Care

02

Ongoing Research and Future Therapies

At this time, there are no FDA-approved medications, pills, or injections that can shrink osteochondromas or cure the condition [1][2][3]. Because these bumps are made of solid bone and cartilage, they act like an extension of your natural skeleton. Currently, the only way to remove them is through surgery [4][5].

While it can be frustrating that medications cannot shrink these bumps, it is important to remember that osteochondromas generally stop growing on their own once you reach skeletal maturity (adulthood).

Why Surgery is the Standard of Care

Since there is no medication to dissolve or shrink the bone bumps, doctors rely on a mechanical approach [2][3]. However, not every bump needs to be removed. Surgery is typically only recommended if a specific osteochondroma is:

  • Causing pain or limiting your joint movement [4][5]
  • Pressing on a nerve or blood vessel [4][6]
  • Causing a bone to grow crookedly [5][6]
  • Growing rapidly or changing suddenly, particularly in adulthood (which can be a rare sign of a more serious issue) [7][8]

For bumps that do not require surgery, your doctor will advise you to monitor them over time [2][3]. While you cannot use medication to shrink the bumps, over-the-counter pain relievers or physical therapy are sometimes used to manage temporary aches associated with them.

Ongoing Research and Future Therapies

While a pill or injection is not available today, researchers are actively looking for pharmacological treatments (drug therapies) that might one day prevent new bumps from forming or slow their growth [9][10].

Multiple osteochondromas are caused by genetic changes (in the EXT1 or EXT2 genes) that result in a shortage of a complex sugar molecule called heparan sulfate [11][1][12]. Without enough heparan sulfate, the signals that tell bone cells how to grow get confused, leading to the development of the bumps [12][9].

Scientists are exploring several ideas in the lab and in early studies:

  • Heparan Sulfate Replacement: Researchers are investigating ways to replace the missing heparan sulfate or mimic its effects in the body, though this is still in the early stages of research and is not yet available to patients [9][10].
  • Signal Blockers: Certain drugs have been tested to block the confused bone-growth signals. For example, a drug called palovarotene was recently studied in clinical trials. Unfortunately, it did not show a clear benefit for multiple osteochondromas and carried a risk of serious side effects, such as causing children’s growth plates to close prematurely [13][14].

While it can be frustrating to hear that there is no medical cure right now, understanding that research is ongoing can offer hope. In the meantime, working closely with an orthopedic specialist—such as a pediatric orthopedic surgeon or an orthopedic oncologist—to monitor your bumps and manage symptoms remains the safest and most effective approach [4][8].

Common questions in this guide

Can pills or injections shrink my bone bumps?
No, there are currently no FDA-approved medications that can shrink or dissolve multiple osteochondromas. Since they are made of solid bone and cartilage, they act like natural extensions of your skeleton and can only be removed through surgery.
When is surgery necessary for multiple osteochondromas?
Surgery is usually only recommended if a bone bump causes pain, limits joint movement, presses on nerves or blood vessels, or leads to crooked bone growth. Bumps that do not cause problems are simply monitored by your doctor over time.
How can I manage osteochondroma pain without surgery?
While medication cannot shrink the bumps, doctors may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers or physical therapy to help manage temporary aches and discomfort associated with the condition.
Are there any clinical trials for multiple osteochondromas medications?
Researchers are actively exploring pharmacological treatments, such as therapies to replace missing heparan sulfate. Some clinical trials have tested signal-blocking drugs, though these are still experimental and not yet widely available to patients.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Curated prompts to bring to your next appointment.

  1. 1.How often should we monitor my existing bone bumps for changes, and what specific warning signs should prompt an immediate visit?
  2. 2.If a bump starts causing pain, what are our options for managing the discomfort before considering surgery?
  3. 3.If surgery becomes necessary, what does the procedure entail and what is the typical recovery time?
  4. 4.Are there any current or upcoming clinical trials for new pharmacological treatments that I might be eligible for?

Questions For You

Tap a prompt to share your answer — we'll use it plus this page's context to start a tailored conversation.

Related questions

Why Does MO Cause Bone Deformities & Uneven Leg Length?Can a Child Get Multiple Osteochondromas If Parents Don't?Can Kids with Multiple Osteochondromas Play Sports?Is EXT1 More Severe Than EXT2 in Multiple Osteochondromas?Which Osteochondromas Have the Highest Cancer Risk?How Often Do I Need an MRI for Multiple Osteochondromas?How to Manage Multiple Osteochondromas Pain Without SurgerySigns an Osteochondroma is Turning Into Cancer?Are HME and Multiple Osteochondromas the Same?When Is Surgery Needed for Multiple Osteochondromas?Why See an Oncologist for Multiple Osteochondromas?

References

References (14)
  1. 1

    Identification of a novel EXT2 frameshift mutation in a family with hereditary multiple exostoses by whole-exome sequencing.

    Yang M, Xie H, Xu B, et al.

    Journal of clinical laboratory analysis 2021; (35(9)):e23968 doi:10.1002/jcla.23968.

    PMID: 34403521
  2. 2

    The natural history of multiple osteochondromas in a large Italian cohort of pediatric patients.

    Mordenti M, Shih F, Boarini M, et al.

    Bone 2020; (139()):115499 doi:10.1016/j.bone.2020.115499.

    PMID: 32592948
  3. 3

    Health-related quality of life and associated risk factors in patients with Multiple Osteochondromas: a cross-sectional study.

    Boarini M, Tremosini M, Di Cecco A, et al.

    Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation 2024; (33(5)):1323-1334 doi:10.1007/s11136-024-03604-4.

    PMID: 38457053
  4. 4

    Management of nerve compression in multiple hereditary exostoses: a report of two cases and review of the literature.

    Payne R, Sieg E, Fox E, et al.

    Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery 2016; (32(12)):2453-2458 doi:10.1007/s00381-016-3166-3.

    PMID: 27444292
  5. 5

    Chest wall osteochondroma resection with biologic acellular bovine dermal mesh reconstruction in pediatric hereditary multiple exostoses: A case report and review of literature.

    Alshehri A

    World journal of clinical cases 2023; (11(17)):4123-4132 doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i17.4123.

    PMID: 37388792
  6. 6

    Popliteal pseudoaneurysm in a young patient with multiple hereditary exostosis.

    Mohamed A, Tolaymat B, Asham GT, et al.

    Journal of vascular surgery cases and innovative techniques 2023; (9(4)):101291 doi:10.1016/j.jvscit.2023.101291.

    PMID: 37767349
  7. 7

    Hereditary multiple exostoses of the ribs as an uncommon cause of pneumothorax: A case report.

    Dumazet A, Launois C, Dury S, et al.

    Medicine 2018; (97(35)):e11894 doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000011894.

    PMID: 30170381
  8. 8

    Arthroscopic Excision of Metaphyseal Distal Femoral Osteochondromas.

    Meta F, Clark SC, Couch CG, et al.

    Arthroscopy techniques 2025; (14(3)):103249 doi:10.1016/j.eats.2024.103249.

    PMID: 40207311
  9. 9

    The pathogenic roles of heparan sulfate deficiency in hereditary multiple exostoses.

    Pacifici M

    Matrix biology : journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology 2018; (71-72()):28-39 doi:10.1016/j.matbio.2017.12.011.

    PMID: 29277722
  10. 10

    Unsuspected osteochondroma-like outgrowths in the cranial base of Hereditary Multiple Exostoses patients and modeling and treatment with a BMP antagonist in mice.

    Sinha S, Mundy C, Bechtold T, et al.

    PLoS genetics 2017; (13(4)):e1006742 doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1006742.

    PMID: 28445472
  11. 11

    Interactions of signaling proteins, growth factors and other proteins with heparan sulfate: mechanisms and mysteries.

    Billings PC, Pacifici M

    Connective tissue research 2015; (56(4)):272-80 doi:10.3109/03008207.2015.1045066.

    PMID: 26076122
  12. 12

    Heparan sulfate antagonism alters bone morphogenetic protein signaling and receptor dynamics, suggesting a mechanism in hereditary multiple exostoses.

    Mundy C, Yang E, Takano H, et al.

    The Journal of biological chemistry 2018; (293(20)):7703-7716 doi:10.1074/jbc.RA117.000264.

    PMID: 29622677
  13. 13

    Palovarotene for patients with multiple hereditary exostosis: results of MO-Ped, a terminated, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase 2 trial.

    Sangiorgi L, Conrad EU, Shih F, et al.

    Scientific reports 2025; (15(1)):38563 doi:10.1038/s41598-025-22554-6.

    PMID: 41188357
  14. 14

    Palovarotene: First Approval.

    Hoy SM

    Drugs 2022; (82(6)):711-716 doi:10.1007/s40265-022-01709-z.

    PMID: 35384641

This page provides educational information about treatment research for multiple osteochondromas. Always consult a pediatric orthopedic surgeon or orthopedic oncologist for medical advice regarding your specific condition.

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