The Preservation of Joint Function in Treatment of Giant Cell Tumor of Bone

거대세포종의 치료시 관절 기능의 보존

Giant cell tumor is most frequently found in juxtaarticular region, and difficult to treat because of local recurrence. Although primary resections reduce recurrence, the joint function will be markedly impaired. Techniques involving physical adjuncts(high speed burr and electric cauterization), acrylic cement or en bloc resection with VFG(vascularized fibular graft) have been employed to reduce local recurrence. From October 1984 to April 1994, twenty-nine patients diagnosed as giant cell tumor were treated at department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University. There were eleven men and 18 women, ranging in age from 17 to 52 years(mean: 34 years). The average follow-up period was four years and five months. The location of the lesion was around the knee in 15, distal radius in three, femoral head in three, and others in eight patients. Fifteen patients around the knee joint were treated with several modalities; curettage with bone graft in five, curettage with cement filling in three, curettage with bone graft and physical adjuncts in five, en bloc resection with VFG in one and en bloc resection with arthroplasty in one patient. The functional results, according to the Marshall's knee score, were excellent in one, good in two, and fair in two after the curettage with bone graft, good in three after the curettage with bone cement filling, excellent in one, good in four after the curettage with bone graft and physical adjuncts, and good in two after the en bloc resection with VFG or arthroplasty. Three patients had local recurrence among 15 patients with giant cell tumor around knee. Vascularized fibular graft around wrist joint provided good functional restoration without local recurrence in all three patients who had giant cell tumor in distal radius. Although there is no statistical significance, it seems that curettage with bone graft using physical adjuncts or acrylic cement reveals better results than simple curettage with bone graft. Excellent functional result were obtained without local recurrence by using vascularized fibular graft after en bloc resection.