Management of Campanacci type III giant cell tumor

Abstract

Objective: Giant cell tumor is an aggressive benign tumor of the bone, involving long bone. They are commonly present around knee joint. There are different treatment options and we assessed the treatment outcomes of various procedures. Methods: This case series was conducted using probability consecutive sampling technique in the Department Orthopedics Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore from December 2011 to March 2016 in a duration of five years four months. Our sample size was fifteen patients between 32 to 60 years of age with giant cell tumor. We included all patients with giant cell tumors newly diagnose on history, clinical examination, radiographs, magnetic resonance image (MRI) and bone biopsy. We excluded all patient with history of previous surgery, uncontrolled diabetes, chronic liver failure, chronic kidney disease and congestive heart failure. We managed all patients with various treatment option included resection arthrodesis with vascular fibular graft, mega prosthesis, and wide margin excision with bi-focal segment transport with external fixator device. We observed treatment effectiveness, limb length discrepancy, and post treatment complications. Our follow up period was four years. We followed all patients six monthly for one year and subsequently at one year. Results: There were 13 (86.7%) male and two (13.3%) females. Majority seven (46.67%) patients were present between 41 to 50 years of age with their mean±SD (30.66±13.87). Amongst three (20%) patients with involvement of proximal humerus, resection arthrodesis with vascular fibular graft was done, three (20%) patients with distal radius, two (66.66%) had resection arthrodesis with vascular fibular graft and one (33.34%) had mega prosthesis. Two (13.3%) had resection arthrodesis (50%) and mega prosthesis (50%). Majority five (33.3%) had proximal tibia involvement were treated with three (60%) resection arthrodesis and two (40%) with mega prosthesis. Among Two (13.3%) patients who had distal tibia involved were managed with wide margin excision, and bi focal segment transport with external fixator device. Out of the total 15 cases, nine (60%) had lower limb involvement and there was only one (11.11%) leg length discrepancy. Conclusion: We concluded from the study that management of giant cell tumors with mega prosthesis, segment trans port and resection with free fibular graft was equally good, but patient satisfaction was better in patients who had resection with mega prosthesis.