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Giant cell tumor (GCT) is a benign, locally aggressive neoplasm with little incidence at the carpal bone level. We present a case of pyramidal bone GCT that required open biopsy for diagnosis. As a definitive treatment, en bloc resection of the pyramidal bone and luno-capitate arthrodesis were performed to avoid frequent relapses of these neoplasms and ensure proper functionality of the anatomical segment.

Giant-cell tumor (GCT) is often more aggressive when located in the distal radius, and wide resection is then the gold-standard. No single reconstruction protocol is recommended, and the technique depends upon the surgeon's preferences. The aim of the present review was to determine the recurrence rate of GTC of the distal radius after intralesional treatment, to assess the results, advantages and complications of the various surgical techniques, and to draw up a decision-tree for surgical indications. The review of literature was performed in the main healthcare databases, searching for studies that reported results of wide resection and reconstruction of distal radius GCT. Local recurrence rates, metastasis rates, reconstruction techniques and respective results and complications were evaluated and analyzed. Sixteen studies were selected, for a total population of 226 patients; 6.0% and 0.9% experienced local recurrence and lung metastasis, respectively. Arthroplasty with non-vascularized or vascularized ipsilateral fibula were the most common techniques and were associated with the highest satisfaction rates: 86.4% and 88.0%, respectively. Arthroplasty with allograft presented a MusculoSkeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score of 79.2% and arthroplasty with custom-made prosthesis presented an MSTS score of 81.8%. Arthrodesis was performed in 46 cases, with an MSTS score of 82.7%. Arthroplasty techniques are the most common in literature; they are used in patients who wish to conserve joint motion. Reconstruction with non-vascularized fibula seems to provide the best results, with lower morbidity. Arthrodesis is usually reserved for heavy manual workers or in case of arthroplasty failure., (Copyright © 2022 SFCM. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of JCOG1610 (randomized controlled phase III trial) was to confirm the superiority of preoperative denosumab to curettage with adjuvant local therapy for patients with giant cell tumor of bone without possible post-operative large bone defect., Methods: The primary endpoint was relapse-free survival and the total sample size was set at 106 patients. Patient accrual began in October 2017. However, the accrual was terminated in December 2020 due to a recommendation from the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee because of poor patient accrual. Now, we report the descriptive results obtained in this study., Results: A total of 18 patients had been registered from 13 Japanese institutions at the time of termination on December 2020. Eleven patients were assigned to Arm A (curettage and adjuvant local therapy) and 7 to Arm B (preoperative denosumab, curettage and adjuvant local therapy). Median follow-up period was 1.6 (range: 0.5-2.8) years. Protocol treatment was completed in all but one patient in Arm A who had a pathological fracture before surgery. All patients in Arm B were treated with five courses of preoperative denosumab. Relapse-free survival proportions in Arm A and B were 90.0% (95% confidence interval: 47.3-98.5) and 100% (100-100) at 1 year, and 60.0% (19.0-85.5) and 62.5% (14.2-89.3) at 2 years, respectively [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.51 (0.24-9.41)]., Conclusion: In terms of relapse-free survival, the superiority of preoperative denosumab was not observed in patients with giant cell tumor of bone without possible post-operative large bone defect., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

En bloc resection is typically performed to treat giant cell tumors of bone (GCTB), particularly when curettage can be challenging owing to extensive bone cortex destruction with soft tissue extension. Few reports have addressed the clinical outcomes after reoperation for local recurrence in patients with GCTB who underwent en bloc resection. In this multicenter retrospective study, we investigated local recurrence, distant metastasis, malignant transformation, mortality, and limb function in patients treated for local recurrence following en bloc resection for GCTB. Among 205 patients who underwent en bloc resection for GCTB of the extremities between 1980 and 2021, we included 29 with local recurrence. En bloc resection was performed for large tumors with soft tissue extension, pathological fractures with joint invasion, complex fractures, and dispensable bones, such as the proximal fibula and distal ulna. Local re-recurrence, distant metastasis, malignant transformation, and mortality rates were 41.4% (12/29), 34.5% (10/29), 6.9% (2/29), and 6.9% (2/29), respectively. The median Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 26 (interquartile range, 23-28). The median follow-up period after surgery for local recurrence was 70.1 months (interquartile range, 40.5-123.8 months). Local recurrence following en bloc resection for GCTB could indicate an aggressive GCTB, necessitating careful follow-up., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a destructive lesion with a high potential for recurrence. RANK-ligand targeted therapy has provided promising, yet mixed results. Sclerostin (SOST) inhibition results in a net anabolic response and is currently used in the treatment of osteoporosis. The application to GCTB is unknown., Objectives: We sought to determine if GCTB stained for SOST on immunohistochemistry and correlate its expression with predictor variables., Methods: All patients at a single institution undergoing surgery for GCTB between 1993 and 2008 with a minimum of 6 months follow-up were included. Primary outcomes included the presence of SOST staining, secondary outcomes included the correlation of patient and tumor-specific predictor variables., Results: SOST antibody staining of any cell type was present in 47 of 48 cases (97.9%). Positivity of the stromal cells was present in 39 of 48 cases (81.3%) and was associated with radiographic aggressiveness (p = 0.023), symptomatic presentation (p = 0.032), prior surgery (p = 0.005), and patient age (p = 0.034). Positivity of giant cells was present in 41 of 48 cases (85.4%) and was not significant with predictive factors., Conclusions: Sclerostin staining in GCTB is a novel finding and warrants further research to define the role of sclerostin as a prognostic factor and therapeutic target., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction: The distal radius is a common location for giant cell tumors (GCTs) of bone. Management includes intralesional curettage or wide excision, however, long-term comparisons of treatment options are limited. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate our institutions' outcomes of treatment of these tumors., Methods: We reviewed 24 GCT of the distal radius in 23 patients (12 males: 11 females) with a mean age of 42 years at the time of surgery. Functional outcomes were collected including the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score (MSTS), QuickDash, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE). The mean follow-up was 13 years., Results: Tumor grade included Campanacci Grade II (n = 14) and Grade III (n = 10). Treatment included extended intralesional curettage (n = 16) and wide excision (n = 8). Reconstruction mainly included bone grafting/cement (n = 16) or free vascularized fibula radiocarpal arthrodesis (n = 5). At most recent follow-up, there was no difference in MSTS, VAS, and PRWE (p > 0.05) between patients undergoing a joint sparing or arthrodesis. Patients undergoing arthrodesis had a lower QuickDASH score (13.7 vs. 20.8, p = 0.04) CONCLUSIONS: Treatment for GCT of the distal radius is individualized however in the setting of articular surface involvement, arthrodesis can lead to superior functional results at long-term follow-up., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Case: Distal radius reconstruction after giant cell tumor (GCT) resection is typically performed with free fibular flaps when a vascularized bone is needed. However, vascularized fibular flaps are contraindicated in patients with peroneal artery variants. We present 2 patients with GCTs of the radius and bilateral peronea arteria magna who underwent resection with wrist fusion using an allograft bone and vascularized free medial femoral condyle periosteal flaps. Both patients had excellent outcomes with minimal postoperative morbidity., Conclusion: Allograft bone with vascularized medial femoral condyle periosteal flaps is an effective option for reconstructing distal radius defects after GCT resection when conventional methods fail., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSCC/B909)., (Copyright © 2022 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.)

Purpose: To quantify joint degeneration and the clinical outcome after curettage and cementation in subchondral giant cell tumors of the bone (GCTB) at the knee., Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 14 consecutive patients (seven female, seven male) with a mean age of 34 years (range 19-51) who underwent curettage and subchondral cementation for a biopsy-confirmed GCTB at the distal femur or the proximal tibia between August 2001 and August 2017, with a mean follow-up period of 54.6 months (range 16.1-156 months). The Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS), Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) classification, and Musculo-Skeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score were assessed., Results: Radiological degeneration progressed from preoperative to the latest follow-up, with a median WORMS from 2.0 to 4.0 (p = 0.006); meanwhile, the median KL score remained at 0 (p = 0.102). Progressive degeneration (WORMS) tended to be associated with the proximity of the tumor to the articular cartilage (mean 1.57 mm; range 0-12 mm) (p = 0.085). The most common degenerative findings were cartilage lesions (n = 11), synovitis (n = 5), and osteophytes (n = 4). Mean MSTS score increased from 23.1 (preoperatively) to 28.3 at the latest follow-up (p < 0.01). Seven patients (50%) were treated for a local recurrence, with six revision surgeries performed. Removal of the cement spacer and filling of the cavity with a cancellous autograft was performed in seven patients. Conversion to a total knee arthroplasty was performed in one patient for local tumor control., Conclusions: Cementation following the curettage of GCTB around the knee is associated with slight degeneration at medium-term follow-up and leads to a significant reduction in pain. Removal of the cement and reconstruction with an autograft may be beneficial in the long term., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

There is no consensus on a treatment strategy for spinal giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) because of the difficulty in their treatment. Treatment options often include the use of the controversial denosumab, an antibody therapy aimed at tumor shrinkage, different curettage techniques, resection, or a combination of these therapies. The current study aimed to identify treatment methods associated with favorable outcomes in patients with spinal GCTB. We retrospectively reviewed 5 patients with spinal GCTB, including patients with tumors of the sacrum, treated at our hospital between September 2011 and November 2020. Two men and 3 women were included in the study. The median follow-up period was 74 months (range: 14-108 months). We surveyed the tumor site, treatment method, denosumab use, and outcomes. The median age was 17 years (range: 17-42 years). There were 2 cases of sacral GCTB and 1 case each of lumbar, cervical, and thoracic vertebral GCTB. The comorbidities observed included hepatitis, malignant lymphoma, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. The treatment method included zoledronic acid after embolization and denosumab, denosumab only, curettage and posterior fusion, and curettage resection after embolization and anterior and posterior fusion. Denosumab was used in all cases. Three patients were continuously disease-free, 1 patient with no evidence of disease, and 1 patient alive with disease. Aggressive treatment, especially surgical treatment, may lead to good results in spinal GCTB., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Liquid nitrogen (LN) has been used as an adjuvant cryotherapy for bone tumors including giant-cell tumor of the bone (GCTB) to remove residual tumor cells after curettage. This study evaluated variables related to the efficacy of LN-based cryoablation in the context of adjuvant treatment of GCTB using porcine femur bone model., Methods: A porcine femur bone model was adopted to simulate intralesional cryotherapy. A LN-holding cavity (point 1, nadir) in the medial epicondyle, 4 holes (points 2-5) in the shaft situated 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm away from the proximal edge of the cavity, and 2 more holes (points 6 and 7) in the condyle cartilage (10 and 20 mm away from the distal edge of the cavity) were made. The cooling rate was compared between the 5 points. The cellular morphological changes and DNA damage in the GCTB tissue attributable to LN-based cryotherapy were determined by H&E stain and TUNEL assay. Cartilage tissue at points 6 and 7 was examined for the extent of tissue injury after cryotherapy., Results: The temperature kinetics at points 1, 2 reached the reference target and were found to be significantly better than the reference (both p < 0.05). The target temperature kinetics were not achieved at points 4 and 5, which showed a significantly lower cooling rate than the reference (both p < 0.001) without reaching the -60°C target. Compared with untreated samples, significantly higher proportion of shrunken or apoptotic cells were found at points 1-3; very small proportion were observed at points 4, 5. Significantly increased chondrocyte degeneration was observed at point 6, and was absent at point 7., Conclusion: The cryotherapy effective range was within 5 mm from nadir. Complications were restricted to within this distance. The cooling rate was unchanged after three repeated cycles of cryotherapy., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: Dr. Wei-Ming Chen, an editorial board member at Journal of the Chinese Medical Association , had no role in the peer review process of or decision to publish this article. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2022, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of LARS ligament and three-dimensional (3D) printed prosthesis on the combined reconstruction of radial hemicarpal joint after distal radius tumor resection., Methods: The clinical data of 12 patients with combined reconstruction of radial hemicarpal joint with LARS ligament and 3D printed prosthesis after distal radius tumor resection between September 2017 and March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 7 males and 5 females with an average age of 41.8 years (range, 19-63 years). There were 8 cases on the left side and 4 cases on the right side, and 10 cases of giant cell tumor of bone and 2 cases of osteosarcoma. The disease duration ranged from 1 to 20 months, with an average of 8.1 months. The osteotomy length, operation time, and intraoperative blood loss were recorded, and the wrist function was evaluated by Mayo wrist score and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score before and after operation. The grip strength of the affected limb was expressed by the percentage of grip strength of the healthy upper limb, and the range of motion (ROM) of the wrist joint was measured, including extension, flexion, radial deviation, and ulnar deviation; the bone ingrowth and osseointegration at the bone-prosthesis interface of the wrist joint were observed by radiographic follow-up; the possible wrist complications were recorded., Results: All 12 patients successfully completed the operation. The osteotomy length was 5.0-10.5 cm (mean, 6.8 cm), and the operation time was 180-250 minutes (mean, 213.8 minutes). The intraoperative blood loss was 30-150 mL (mean, 61.7 mL). All patients were followed up 11-52 months (mean, 30.8 months). Radiographic follow-up showed that bone ingrowth and osseointegration at the bone-prosthesis interface were observed in all patients, and biological fixation was gradually achieved. During the follow-up, the stability, motor function, and ROM of the wrist joint were good. There was no complication such as arthritis, subluxation, prosthesis loosening, and infection, and no tumor recurrence and metastasis. At last follow-up, the Mayo score was 82.1±5.4, and MSTS score was 27.5±1.5, which were significantly improved when compared with those before operation (48.8±13.5, 16.4±1.4; t =-10.761, P <0.001; t =-26.600, P <0.001). The grip strength of the affected side was 59%-88% of that of the healthy side, with an average of 70.5%. The ROM of wrist joint were 55°-80° (mean, 65.42°) in extension, 35°-60° (mean, 44.58°) in flexion, 10°-25° (mean, 17.92°) in radial deviation, 10°-25° (mean, 18.33°) in ulnar deviation., Conclusion: The combined application of LARS ligament and 3D printed prosthesis is an effective way to reconstruct bone and joint defects after distal radius tumor resection. It can improve the function of wrist joint, reduce the incidence of complications, and improve the stability of wrist joint.

Purpose of Review: Giant cell tumors of bone (GCTB) are intermediate, locally aggressive primary bone tumors. For conventional GCTB, surgery remains treatment of choice. For advanced GCTB, a more important role came into play for systemic therapy including denosumab and bisphosphonates over the last decade., Recent Findings: In diagnostics, focus has been on H3F3A (G34) driver mutations present in GCTB. The most frequent mutation (G34W) can be detected using immunohistochemistry and is highly specific in differentiating GCTB from other giant cell containing tumors. PD-L1 expression can be used as biological marker to predict higher recurrence risks in GCTB patients.The use of bisphosphonate-loaded bone cement is under investigation in a randomized controlled trial. A new technique consisting of percutaneous microwave ablation and bisphosphonate-loaded polymethylmethacrylate cementoplasty was proposed for unresectable (pelvic) GCTB.Increased experience with use of denosumab raised concern on elevated recurrence rates. However, conclusions of meta-analyses should be interpreted with risk of indication bias in mind. Several small studies are published with short-course denosumab (varying from 3 to 6 doses). One small trial directly compared denosumab and zoledronic acid, with no statistical differences in radiological and clinical outcome, and nonsignificantly higher recurrence rate after denosumab. As bisphosphonates directly target neoplastic stromal cells in GCTB, larger directly comparative trials are still warranted., Summary: Neoadjuvant denosumab is highly effective for advanced GCTB, and a short-course is advised to facilitate surgery, whereas increased recurrence rates remain of concern. Randomized controlled trials are conducted on bisphosphonate-loaded bone cement and on optimal dose and duration of neoadjuvant denosumab. PD-L1 could be a potential new therapy target in GCTB., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Giant cell tumors (GCTs) and giant cell granulomas (GCGs) are giant cell-rich lesions that occur extremely rarely in the temporal bone and have similar clinical presentations., Objectives: We aimed to analyze the clinical features and introduce our staging system and surgical treatment., Methods: Forty-six patients pathologically diagnosed with a giant cell lesion involving the temporal bone between October 2001 and October 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical characteristics, surgical approaches, and risk factors for recurrence were analyzed., Results: GCTs and GCGs presented as masses centered on the temporomandibular joint with similar imaging features, including a thin, calcified shell and central scattered calcifications on a computed tomography scan. Differences were detected on magnetic resonance imaging in 29.6% (4/14) of GCG and 50% (16/32) of GCT cases; the remaining cases were not distinguishable. Based on our staging system and surgical strategy, 31.8% (7/22) of GCT and 10% (1/10) of GCG cases experienced recurrence, which compares to recurrence rates of 60% in GCT cases and 20% in GCG cases in previous studies., Conclusions: Specific clinical and preoperative imaging features help to make a diagnosis of temporal giant cell-rich lesions. Our staging system and surgical strategy could help surgeons tailor the surgical strategy.

Introduction: Denosumab has been shown to be highly effective at suppressing the progression of giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB). However, recent studies have observed a potential increased risk of local recurrence after surgery following the use of denosumab, raising concerns on the use of this agent against GCTB in combination with surgery., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 234 patients with GCTB who were surgically treated at multiple institutions from 1990 to 2017. Patient background, tumor characteristics, treatment methods, local recurrence-free survival rate, distant metastasis rate, oncologic outcome, and limb function at final follow-up were analyzed and compared between cases treated with and without denosumab., Results: The 3-year local recurrence-free survival rate was significantly lower in patients who underwent preoperative denosumab therapy (35.3%) compared with those treated without denosumab (79.9%) (P < 0.001). Among patients who were preoperatively treated with denosumab, those who had a local recurrence all underwent curettage surgery., Conclusions: Preoperative denosumab therapy in combination with curettage surgery was significantly associated with an increased risk of local recurrence in Campanacci grade 3 tumors. Our data suggest that clinicians seeing GCTB patients should be aware to this increased risk when planning preoperative denosumab therapy., (© 2022. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Background: Surgical complications are frequent with giant cell tumor of bone; recurrence is the best known and most widely studies; other causes of failure have been less well investigated. We therefore performed a retrospective study to identify and assess the main reasons for surgical revision., Hypothesis: Recurrence is the main cause of surgical revision in giant cell tumor of bone, but other complications, such as mechanical issues or infection, are underestimated., Patients and Methods: A single-center retrospective study included 192 patients (included from 2000 to 2016) undergoing first giant cell tumor of bone surgery in a bone tumor reference center. Surgery consisted in curettage for 152 patients (79%) and resection for 40 (21%). The 3 main reconstruction techniques were filling (136 patients; 71%), prosthesis (18 patients; 9%), and fusion (14 patients: 7%). Filling used cement in 9 cases (7%) and bone graft in 127 (93%). Cumulative incidence functions were calculated., Results: There were 171 revision procedures in 92 patients: 43 for mechanical reasons, 30 for infection, 86 for tumor recurrence, 12 for other causes. Cumulative incidence of revision at 10years was 36% (95% CI: 27-44) for recurrence, 26% (95% CI: 17-36) for mechanical causes, and 13% (95% CI: 9-19) for infection, for overall cumulative incidence of revision of 61% (95% CI: 50-69)., Discussion: Risk of all-cause surgical revision in giant cell tumor of bone was 61% at 10years, with recurrence accounting for only half of cases., Level of Evidence: IV., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Background: Following curettage of giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB), it is common to fill the cavity with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement, bone allograft, or artificial bone to maintain bone strength; however, there is a 2-14% risk of postoperative fractures. We conducted this retrospective study to clarify the risk factors for fractures after curettage for GCTB of the extremities., Methods: This study included 284 patients with GCTBs of the extremities who underwent curettage at our institutions between 1980 and 2018 after excluding patients whose cavities were not filled with anything or who had additional plate fixation. The tumor cavity was filled with PMMA bone cement alone (n = 124), PMMA bone cement and bone allograft (n = 81), bone allograft alone (n = 63), or hydroxyapatite graft alone (n = 16)., Results: Fractures after curettage occurred in 10 (3.5%) patients, and the median time from the curettage to fracture was 3.5 months (interquartile range [IQR], 1.8-8.3 months). The median postoperative follow-up period was 86.5 months (IQR, 50.3-118.8 months). On univariate analysis, patients who had GCTB of the proximal or distal femur (1-year fracture-free survival, 92.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 85.8-96.2) presented a higher risk for postoperative fracture than those who had GCTB at another site (100%; p = 0.0005). Patients with a pathological fracture at presentation (1-year fracture-free survival, 88.2%; 95% CI: 63.2-97.0) presented a higher risk for postoperative fracture than those without a pathological fracture at presentation (97.8%; 95% CI: 95.1-99.0; p = 0.048). Patients who received bone grafting (1-year fracture-free survival, 99.4%; 95% CI: 95.7-99.9) had a lower risk of postoperative fracture than those who did not receive bone grafting (94.4%; 95% CI: 88.7-97.3; p = 0.003)., Conclusions: For GCTBs of the femur, especially those with pathological fracture at presentation, bone grafting after curettage is recommended to reduce the risk of postoperative fracture. Additional plate fixation should be considered when curettage and cement filling without bone grafting are performed in patients with GCTB of the femur. This should be specially performed for those patients with a pathological fracture at presentation., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Giant-cell tumor of bone is a rare, locally aggressive and rarely metastasizing primary bone tumor. The mainstay of treatment remains controversial and is decided by the balance between adequate surgical margin and sufficient adjacent joint function. Although curettage with a high-speed burr and local adjuvants can maintain normal joint function, many reports have revealed a high local recurrence rate. Conversely, en bloc resection and reconstruction with prostheses for highly aggressive lesions have reportedly lower local recurrence rates and poorer functional outcomes. Denosumab-a full human monoclonal antibody that inhibits receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa β ligand-was approved by the Food and Drug Authority in 2013 for use in surgically unresectable or when resection is likely to result in severe morbidity for skeletally mature adolescents and adults with giant-cell tumor of bone. However, subsequent studies have suggested that the local recurrence rate would be increased by preoperative use of denosumab. In systematic reviews of the local recurrence rate after preoperative use of denosumab, conclusions vary due to the small sample sizes of the studies reviewed. Therefore, controversy regarding the treatment of giant-cell tumor of bone is ongoing. Here, this review elucidates the management of giant-cell tumor of bone, especially with the local adjuvant and neoadjuvant use of denosumab, and presents the current, evidence-based treatment for giant-cell tumor of bone., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permission@oup.com.)

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of ten patients (five men and five women) who were treated in our unit for Campanacci Grade III giant cell tumour of the distal radius between July 2017 and December 2019. Following en bloc resection of a giant cell tumour of the distal radius, the wrist was reconstructed by transposing a vascularized pedicle graft from the ipsilateral ulnar shaft. The graft was fixed to the radial shaft and proximal carpal row with plates. At a mean follow-up of 23.5 months (range 18 to 31), bony union was achieved in all cases and there were no tumour recurrences. All patients had a good range of pronation and supination, but flexion and extension of the wrist was limited. DASH scores ranged from 5 to 11. This reconstruction method is a safe and effective procedure that provides good aesthetic outcomes, removes the need for microvascular techniques and reduces donor site morbidity. Level of evidence: IV.

Background: Due to the wide variations in location, size, local invasiveness, and treatment options, the complications associated with surgery for giant cell tumor of bone have been sporadically reported. For quality assessment, fundamental data based on large-scale surveys of complications under a universal evaluation system is needed. The Dindo-Clavien classification is an evaluation system for complications based on severity and required intervention type and is suitable for the evaluation of surgery in a heterogeneous cohort., Methods: A multi-institutional retrospective survey of 141 patients who underwent surgery for giant cell tumor of bone in the extremity was performed. The incidence and risk factors of complications, type of intervention for complication control, and impact of complications on functional and oncological outcomes were analyzed using the Dindo-Clavien classification., Results: Forty-six cases (32.6%) had one or more complications. Of them, 18 (12.8%), 11 (7.8%), and 17 (12.1%) cases were classified as Dindo-Clavien classification grade I, II, and III complications, respectively. There were no cases with grade IV or V complications. Progression in Campanacci grading (p = 0.04), resection (over curettage, p < 0.0001), reconstruction with prosthesis (p = 0.0007), and prolonged operative duration (p = 0.0002) were significant risk factors for complications. Complications had a significant impact on function (p < 0.0001). Differences in the impact of complication types and tumor location on function were confirmed. Complications had no impact on local recurrence and metastasis development., Conclusion: The Dindo-Clavien classification could provide fundamental information, under a uniform definition and classification system, on postoperative complications in patients with giant cell tumor of bone in terms of incidence, type of intervention for complication control, risk factors, and impact on functional outcome. The data are useful not only for preoperative evaluation for the risk of complications under specific conditions but also for quality assessment of surgery for giant cell tumor of bone., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Japanese Orthopaedic Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Study Deign: This was a retrospective study about sacral giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB)., Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether ultra-short course of neo-adjuvant denosumab treatment for sacral GCTB could (1) induce radiological and histological response? (2) Facilitate nerve-sparing surgery? (3) Achieve satisfactory oncological and functional outcomes?, Summary of Background Data: Previous reports on long course of neo-adjuvant denosumab treatment for GCTB showed significant tumor response and a relatively high recurrent rate after curettage., Methods: Sixty-six patients with sacral GCTB treated with neoadjuvant denosumab and nerve-sparing surgery were categorized into ultra-short course group (≤3 doses and operation within D21 since 1st dose, 41 patients) or conventional group (>3 doses or operation after D21 since 1st dose, 25 patients). The radiological and histological response, operative data, oncological and functional outcomes were compared., Results: The ultra-short course group demonstrated fewer doses of neo-adjuvant denosumab (mean: 2.1 vs. 4.8, P  < 0.001) and shorter time to surgery (12.2 days vs. 72.3 days, P < 0.001). Similar patterns of radiological and histological response were observed in the two groups with less fibrosis and ossification in the ultra-short course group. The operative duration (199.9 min vs. 187.8 min, P = 0.364) and estimated blood loss (1552.4 mL vs. 1474.0 mL, P = 0.740) were comparable. Most (94.8%) of the patients received adjuvant denosumab. After a mean follow-up of 29.4 months, three cases (8.8%) and five cases (20.8%) showed local recurrence in each group (P = 0.255). The estimated recurrence-free survival (56.2 vs. 51.2 months, P = 0.210) and the functional status [Motor-Urination-Defecation scores: 25.9 vs. 25.7, P = 0.762] did not differ between the two groups., Conclusion: Ultra-short course of neo-adjuvant denosumab for sacral GCTB could elicit radiological and histological responses as conventional course did. The less degree of fibrosis and ossification might facilitate nerve-sparing surgery and help to achieve satisfactory local control and functional status.Level of Evidence: 4., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Treatment of distal radius tumor sometimes requires sacrificing the epiphysis. We propose adding to currently available reconstruction options a technique using a double-barrel vascularized fibula flap fixed distally to the first carpal row, conserving midcarpal mobility. We monitored 4 cases of Campanacci III giant-cell tumor and 2 cases of osteosarcoma. After en-bloc tumor resection, a double-barrel vascularized fibula flap was lodged distally in the scaphoid and lunate and proximally in the radius. Follow-up was clinical and radiological, using DASH, PRWE and MSTS functional scores. At a median 3 years' follow-up, there were no cases of recurrence or non-union. Median ranges of motion were 23° flexion, 28° extension, 90° pronation and 62° supination. Median grip strength proportional to the contralateral side was 67%. Median DASH and PRWE functional scores were respectively 13.7 and 17 points. Median MSTS was 83%. Although this technique is challenging, with difficulties in double-barrel flap placement and in pedicle plication, the double-barrel vascularized fibula flap provided a stable and mobile wrist., (Copyright © 2021 SFCM. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Denosumab has been approved by Food and Drug Authority in 2013 for use in surgically unresectable Giant cell tumor (GCT) to achieve resectable tumor margins. The aim of this study is to investigate the functional outcome and surgical convenience with the use of neoadjuvant denosumab before resection and reconstruction in Campanacci grade III GCT., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 70 cases of Campanacci grade III GCT receiving resection and reconstruction between January 2014 and December 2019. They were stratified into two groups: one group of 29 patients received once-weekly denosumab 120 mg for 4-weeks before resection and reconstruction, while the other group of 41 patients did not receive denosumab before resection and reconstruction. Quality of life by musculoskeletal tumor society score where 0-7 means poor, 8-14 means fair, 15-22 means good; above 22 means excellent, incidence of tumor recurrence, intraoperative duration in minutes and postoperative positive margins were assessed for each cohort after 12 months follow-up., Results: There was no significant difference in musculoskeletal tumor society score (25.75 vs. 27.41; P  = 0.178), incidence of recurrence (3.45% vs. 4.88%; P  < 0.001), and postoperative positive margins (10.34% vs. 4.88%; P  = 0.38) for both groups. However, the intraoperative duration (133.38 vs. 194.49; P  < 0.001) was significantly higher in the non-denosumab group compared with denosumab group., Conclusions: Neoadjuvant denosumab is equally effective considering postoperative functional outcomes and surgical convenience except intraoperative duration where it is highly helpful in saving the operating time duration. Easier identification, resection and lesser reconstruction are the key surgical convenience offered by neoadjuvant denosumab., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The most common reconstruction method for bone defects caused by giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is cement packing combined with subchondral bone grafting and extra fixation. However, this method has several limitations involving bone cement and bone graft, which may lead to poor prognosis and joint function. A titanium-based 3D-printed strut-type prosthesis, featured with excellent biocompatibility and osseointegration ability, was developed for this bone defect in our institution. The goal of this study is to comparatively analyze the biomechanical performance of reconstruction methods aimed at the identification of better operative strategy., Methods: Four different 3D finite element models were created. Model #1: Normal femur; Model #2: Femur with tumorous cavity bone defects in the distal femur; Model #3: Cavity bone defects reconstructed by cement packing combined with subchondral bone grafting and extra fixation; Model #4: Cavity bone defects reconstructed by 3D-printed strut-type prosthesis combined with subchondral bone grafting. The femoral muscle multiple forces were applied to analyze the mechanical difference among these models by finite element analysis., Results: Optimal stress and displacement distribution were observed in the normal femur. Both reconstruction methods could provide good initial stability and mechanical support. Stress distributed unevenly on the femur repaired by cement packing combined with subchondral bone grafting and extra fixation, and obvious stress concentration was found around the articular surface of this femur. However, the femur repaired by 3D-printed strut-type prosthetic reconstruction showed better performance both in displacement and stress distribution, particularly in terms of the protection of articular surface and subchondral bone., Conclusions: 3D-printed strut-type prosthesis is outstanding in precise shape matching and better osseointegration. Compared to cement packing and extra fixation, it can provide the almost same support and fixation stiffness, but better biomechanical performance and protection of subchondral bone and articular cartilage. Therefore, 3D-printed strut-type prosthetic reconstruction combined with subchondral bone grafting may be evaluated as an alternative for the treatment of GCTBs in distal femur., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Aims: Intralesional curettage is a commonly used treatment for primary bone tumors. However, local recurrence of tumors after curettage remains a major challenge., Questions: (1) Is blood pressure related to local recurrence after intralesional curettage for benign or intermediate bone tumors? (2) What's the impact of tourniquet usage on the risk of recurrence from high blood pressure?, Methods: This retrospective study evaluated patients receiving intralesional curettage for primary bone tumors from January 2011 to January 2015. A total of 411 patients with a minimum five-year follow-up were included for analysis. Demographic and disease-related variables were first assessed in univariable analyses for local recurrence risk. When a yielded p-value was < 0.2, variables were included in multivariable analyses to identify independent risk factors for local recurrence. Patients were then stratified by tourniquet usage (use/non-use), and risk from high blood pressure was evaluated in both subgroups., Results: At an average follow-up of 6.8 ± 1.0 years, 63 of 411 patients (15.3%) experienced local recurrence. In multivariable analyses, local recurrence was associated with age (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99; p = 0.005); tumor type; lesion size (> 5 cm: OR, 3.58; 95% CI, 1.38-9.33; p = 0.009); anatomical site (proximal femur: OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.21-5.15; p = 0.014; proximal humerus: OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.61-6.92; p = 0.001); and preoperative mean arterial pressure (> 110 mmHg: OR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.20-5.67; P = 0.015). In subgroup analyses, after adjusting for age, tumor type, lesion size, and anatomical site, tourniquet use modified the preoperative mean arterial pressure - recurrence relationship: when tourniquet was not used, preoperative mean arterial pressure predicted local recurrence (95-110 mmHg, 4.13, 1.42-12.03, p = 0.009; > 110 mmHg, 28.06, 5.27-149.30, p < 0.001); when tourniquet was used, preoperative mean arterial pressure was not related to local recurrence (all p values > 0.05)., Conclusions: A high preoperative blood pressure was related to local recurrence after intralesional curettage for primary bone tumors in our study. Tourniquet usage and controlling blood pressure might be beneficial for reducing local recurrence in patients scheduled to receive intralesional curettage for primary bone tumor treatment., Level of Evidence: Level IV, hypothesis-generating study., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is an intermediate tumor commonly arising from the epiphysis of the distal femur and proximal tibia. Standard GCTB treatment is joint-preserving surgery performed using thorough curettage and the filling of the cavity with allo-, auto-, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or synthetic bone graft. Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) is an artificial bone substitute, which has the benefit of being able to adjust defects, consequently inducing immediate mechanical strength, and promoting biological healing. Secondary osteoarthritis may occur following GCTB treatment and may need additional surgery if severe. However, details regarding surgery for secondary osteoarthritis have not been fully elucidated. There are no reports on the use of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for the treatment of secondary osteoarthritis following CPC packing. The insertion of an alignment rod is a standard procedure in TKA; however, it was difficult to perform in this case due to CPC. Therefore, we used a computed tomography (CT)-free navigation system to assist the distal femur cut. This study presents a knee joint secondary osteoarthritis case following CPC packing for GCTB curettage that was treated with standard TKA., Case Presentation: A 67-year-old Japanese woman, who was previously diagnosed with left distal femur GCTB and was treated by curettage and CPC packing 7 years ago, complained of severe knee pain. Left knee joint plain radiography revealed Kellgren and Lawrence (K-L) grade 4 osteoarthritis without evidence of tumor recurrence. Therefore, she was scheduled for TKA. There are no reports on the cutting of a femoral condyle surface with massive CPC with accurate alignment. Because it is difficult to insert the alignment rod intramedullary and cut the femoral condyle with CPC, we planned CT-free navigation-guided surgery for accurate bone cutting using an oscillating tip saw system to prevent CPC cracks. We performed standard TKA without complications, as planned. Postoperative X-ray showed normal alignment. Knee Society Knee Score (KSKS) and Knee Society Function Score (KSFS) ameliorated from 27 and 29 to 64 and 68, respectively The patient can walk without a cane postoperatively., Conclusion: There was no report about the surface TKA guided by CT-free navigation after primary GCT surgery with CPC. We believe that this case report will help in planning salvage surgery for secondary osteoarthritis after CPC packing., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is an intermediate but locally aggressive neoplasm. Current treatment of high-risk GCTB involves administration of denosumab, which inhibits bone destruction and promotes osteosclerosis. However, denosumab monotherapy is not a curative treatment for GCTB and surgical treatment remains required. Denosumab treatment complicates surgery, and the recurrence rate of GCTB is high (20%-30%)., Purpose: To examine the utility of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) for detection and reduction of residual tumor after denosumab treatment and to investigate the utility of iMRI, which is not yet widely used., Material and Methods: We enrolled five patients who received denosumab for a median period of eight months (range 6-12 months). Surgery was performed when the degree of osteosclerosis around the articular surface was deemed appropriate. We performed iMRI using a modified operation table to identify residual tumor after initial curettage and evaluated the rate of detection of residual tumor by iMRI, intraoperative and postoperative complications, exposure time of iMRI, and operation time., Results: Suspected residual tumor tissue was identified in all five cases and was confirmed by histopathology after additional curettage. The rate of detection of residual tumor by iMRI was 100%. Residual tumor was located in sites which were difficult to remove due to osteosclerosis. The iMRI was performed safely and without trouble. During the median follow-up period of 10 months (range 6-24 months), no adverse events or recurrences occurred., Conclusion: Intraoperative MRI could contribute to the reduction of residual tumor tissue and it may prevent recurrence of GCTB after denosumab therapy.

Background: Extended curettage has increasingly become the preferred treatment for giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB), but the high recurrence rate after curettage poses a major challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. Computed tomography (CT) is valuable in the evaluation of GCTB. Our aim was to identify specific features of GCTB around the knee in pre-operative CT images that might have prognostic value for local recurrence., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 124 patients with primary GCTB around the knee who underwent extended curettage from 2010 through 2019. We collected demographic, clinical, and therapeutic data along with several CT-derived tumour characteristics. CT-derived tumor characteristics included tumour size, the distance between the tumour edge and articular surface (DTA), and destruction of posterior cortical bone (DPC). Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used to select which variables to enter into multivariate logistic regression models and to determine significant factors affecting recurrence., Results: The total recurrence rate was 21.0% (26/124), and the average follow-up time was 69.5 ± 31.2 months (24-127 months). Age, DTA (< 2 mm), and DPC were significantly related to recurrence, as determined by multivariate logistic regression. The C-index of the final model was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.71 to 0.88), representing a good model for predicting recurrence., Conclusion: Identifying certain features of GCTB around the knee on CT has prognostic value for patients treated with extended curettage. A three-factor model predicts tumour recurrence well after extended curettage., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: The cytopathology of a giant cell tumor of soft tissue (GCT-ST), a fibrohistiocytic neoplasm distinct from other giant cell-rich soft tissue tumors, is rarely reported. The authors report their experience with a series of 4 GCT-ST fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy cases and compare them with a set from giant cell tumors of bone (GCTBs)., Methods: The authors' cytopathology files were searched for GCT-ST examples with histopathologic confirmation. FNA biopsy smears were performed and examined with standard techniques., Results: Four cases of GCT-ST presenting as a primary soft tissue mass from 4 patients (3 males and 1 female; age range, 28-75 years, mean age, 53 years) were retrieved. FNA sites included the anterior tibia, buttock, shoulder, and upper back. Three cases were interpreted as suspicious for sarcoma radiographically. The specific diagnoses were atypical giant cell tumor of tendon sheath, suspicious for GCT-ST, atypical myxoid lesion with giant cells, and benign with osteoclast-like giant cells (OLGCs). No case was interpreted as malignant. Aspirates consisted of mononuclear polygonal cells, spindled fibroblast cell clusters, and large OLGCs to the near exclusion of other cell types. OLGCs possessed 10 or more nuclei per cell. A comparison with GCTB aspirates and single case reports from the literature showed comparable cytomorphology., Conclusions: GCT-ST FNA smears mimic those of GCTBs containing a limited population of uniform spindle cell clusters, single dispersed polygonal cells, and cytologically banal OLGCs. GCT-ST should be considered in the differential diagnosis of aspirates containing numerous osteoclast-like giant cells., (© 2021 American Cancer Society.)

Aims: Giant cell tumours (GCTs) of the proximal femur are rare, and there is no consensus about the best method of filling the defect left by curettage. In this study, we compared the outcome of using a fibular strut allograft and bone cement to reconstruct the bone defect after extended curettage of a GCT of the proximal femur., Methods: In a retrospective study, we reviewed 26 patients with a GCT of the proximal femur in whom the bone defect had been filled with either a fibular strut allograft (n = 12) or bone cement (n = 14). Their demographic details and oncological and nononcological complications were retrieved from their medical records. Limb function was assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score., Results: Mean follow-up was 116 months (SD 59.2; 48 to 240) for the fibular strut allograft group and 113 months (SD 43.7; 60 to 192) for the bone cement group (p = 0.391). The rate of recurrence was not significantly different between the two groups (25% vs 21.4%). The rate of nononcological complications was 16.7% in the strut allograft group and 42.8% in the bone cement group. Degenerative joint disease was the most frequent nononcological complication in the cement group. The mean MSTS score of the patients was 92.4% (SD 11.5%; 73.3% to 100.0%) in the fibular strut allograft group and 74.2% (SD 10.5%; 66.7% to 96.7%) in the bone cement group (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Given the similar rate of recurrence and a lower rate of nononcological complications, fibular strut grafting could be recommended as a method of reconstructing the bone defect left by curettage of a GCT of the proximal femur. Cite this article: Bone Joint J  2022;104-B(2):297-301.

Purpose: Giant cell tumour (GCT) of the bone is a benign but locally aggressive tumour, commonly occurs at the metaphyseal-epiphyseal junction of the distal femur, proximal tibia, and distal radius. For Campanacci grade II and III lesions of the distal radius and in cases of recurrence, we usually carry out wide resection and reconstruction. There are numerous publications on the treatment of GCT of the distal radius. Still, reports on the functional outcome using non-vascularized fibular graft arthroplasty without fusion remain limited., Method: We reviewed patients who underwent wide resection and non-vascularized fibular graft arthroplasty from 2007 to May 2014. The assessment was done with Musculoskeletal Tumour Society Score (MSTS), Toronto Extremities Scoring System (TESS) and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores. We also reviewed the radiographic results., Results: Fifteen patients were recruited, of whom 10 cases used ipsilateral fibular graft and five used contralateral non-vascularized fibular graft. The average duration of follow up was 6 years (3.25-9.92 years). The average grip strength was 48.1% compared to the non-operated hand. The average MSTS score was 78.4 %, TESS score was 84%, and DASH score was 25.2. The average time to radiological union was 12.5 weeks. 64% (29-78%) of the range of movement is preserved compared to the normal side. The complication rate was 20%., Conclusion: Fibula autograft arthroplasty is a feasible method of reconstruction after distal radius resection with good functional outcomes.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The preferred treatment of giant cell tumor of bone is curettage with the use of local adjuvant. If the tumor spreads beyond the bone into soft tissues, en bloc excision should be performed. Intralesional curettage allows joint preservation, but it is associated with a high recurrence rate. The purpose of the study was to identify the risk factors for local recurrence and to compare the functional outcomes after both types of surgical procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS The group included 16 patients (5 women, 11 men) with giant cell tumor of bone in distal forearm treated at the First Department of Orthopedic Surgery, St. Anne s University Hospital Brno in 2005-2019. The mean age of patients was 38 years (22-53). The follow-up period was 6.75 years (2-15) on average. The most common location of the tumor was distal radius (14). In 6 patients denosumab treatment was indicated. Based on the obtained data, we compared the effects of gender, Campanacci grade, type of surgery and administration of denosumab on the risk of local recurrence. The functional outcomes were evaluated retrospectively based on the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scoring system for upper limb salvage surgeries. RESULTS Resection and reconstruction using an osteocartilaginous allograft was performed in 9 patients. Seven patients were treated with tumor curettage with bone cement used to fill the cavity. The group of patients who underwent curettage showed a significantly higher mean MSTS score 89% compared to the group of patients with resection with the mean MSTS score 66% (P < 0.05). Local tumor recurrence was reported in 3 patients (18.75%). No statistically significant difference was found in gender, tumor grade, radicality of surgery or administration of targeted therapy with respect to the incidence of local recurrence. Altogether 6 complications (37.5%) were observed in the group. DISCUSSION The treatment of a giant cell tumor of bone aims to completely remove the tumor and to preserve the best possible function of the limb. The complications in distal forearm involve particularly an increase incidence of local recurrence and painful or limited range of motion of the wrist. Whereas curettage with the use of local adjuvant is burdened with a higher recurrence rate, resection with allograft reconstruction of bone defect is usually associated with poorer functional outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Tumor curettage using local adjuvant is preferred in a well-circumscribed tumor and offers an excellent functional outcome. En bloc tumor resection and reconstruction using an osteocartilaginous allograft is a suitable treatment option for a locally advanced tumor with a low risk of local recurrence. Key words: giant cell tumor of bone, distal radius, distal ulna, curettage, osteocartilaginous allograft.

Background: Femoral bone deficiency is a challenging problem in revision proximal femoral replacement. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of revision proximal femoral replacement as a salvage treatment for severe bone loss after oncologic proximal replacement surgery in patient with benign giant cell tumor of bone., Methods: 16 patients (6 men and 10 women) were included in this retrospective study, with a mean age of 46.6 year at the time of revision surgery. All patients underwent revision proximal femoral replacement with the use of modular prosthesis and cortical strut allografts. The modified Harris Hip Score, Short Form 36, and musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score were used for patient evaluation. Regular follow-up was performed to evaluate the recurrence and metastases rate, limb function, and long-term complications of patients., Results: The average follow-up was 46.3 months (range, 26-75 months), during which there was no local recurrence and metastases of patient. At the latest follow-up, the mean modified Harris Hip Score was 70.6 points, which was significantly improved compared with that of preoperative ( p < 0.05). The final follow-up results of Short Form 36, Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score, and limb-length discrepancy were also significantly improved compared to that of preoperative ( p < 0.05). At the latest follow-up, the implanted femoral stems were all stable and all cortical strut allografts were also incorporated to their own bone., Conclusion: Using modular prosthesis and cortical strut allografts in revision, proximal femur replacement is an acceptable procedure for relatively young patient with severe proximal femoral bone loss after oncologic surgery with benign giant cell tumor of bone. More attentions should be paid to reduce the risk of complications in these complex reconstructions.

The hand is an extremely rare site for giant cell tumor (GCT). There are only a few reported cases of GCT including the hand, and even fewer reporting involvement of phalanges. GCTs in small bones are typically more aggressive and have higher local recurrence and rate of metastasis in younger patients compared to long bone involvement, so the treatment is more clinically challenging in the hand. In this study, we present the management of giant cell tumors of the proximal phalanxin two patients treated with two different method; ray resection and arthrodesis using an iliac crest graft. Key words: giant cell tumor, phalanx, hand, recurrence.

Background: There is no standard treatment for giant cell tumors of the sacrum. We compared the outcomes and complications in patients with sacral giant cell tumors who underwent intralesional nerve-sparing surgery with or without (neo-) adjuvant therapies versus those who underwent non-surgical treatment (denosumab therapy and/or embolization)., Methods: We retrospectively investigated 15 cases of sacral giant cell tumors treated at two institutions between 2005 and 2020. Nine patients underwent intralesional nerve-sparing surgery with or without (neo-) adjuvant therapies, and six patients received non-surgical treatment. The mean follow-up period was 85 months for the surgical group (range, 25-154 months) and 59 months (range, 17-94 months) for the non-surgical group., Results: The local recurrence rate was 44% in the surgical group, and the tumor progression rate was 0% in the non-surgical group. There were two surgery-related complications (infection and bladder laceration) and three denosumab-related complications (apical granuloma of the tooth, stress fracture of the sacroiliac joint, and osteonecrosis of the jaw). In the surgical group, the mean modified Biagini score (bowel, bladder, and motor function) was 0.9; in the non-surgical group, it was 0.5. None of the 11 female patients became pregnant or delivered a baby after developing a sacral giant cell tumor., Conclusions: The cure rate of intralesional nerve-sparing surgery is over 50%. Non-surgical treatment has a similar risk of complications to intralesional nerve-sparing surgery and has better functional outcomes than intralesional nerve-sparing surgery, but patients must remain on therapy over time. Based on our results, the decision on the choice of treatment for sacral giant cell tumors could be discussed between the surgeon and the patient based on the tumor size and location., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background and Objectives: Reconstructions of the distal radius are uncommon procedures. This systematic review compares joints-sparing (JS) versus nonjoint-sparing (NJS) reconstructions following oncologic resection of the distal radius., Methods: A search was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Collected outcomes included patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), range of motion and grip strength, and complication and reoperation rates., Results: A total of 52 nonrandomized cohort studies (n = 715) were included. PROMs were comparable between the cohorts, while the range of flexion-extension was greater in JS reconstructions (78.1° vs. 25.6°) and the range of pronation-supination was greater in NJS reconstructions (133.6° vs. 109.8°). Relative grip strength was greater following JS reconstruction (65.0% vs. 56.4%). About one in sixteen of the JS reconstructions were eventually revised to an NJS construct., Conclusions: This systematic review demonstrates that JS reconstructive techniques can offer satisfying results in patients treated for oncologic distal radius defects. However, about 6% of JS reconstructions are eventually revised to a NJS construct. Further investigation is warranted to identify factors that affect or predict these findings, to aid in future in treatment selection and reduce the common need for reoperations following these procedures., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: To explore the predictive value of preoperative imaging in patients with spinal giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) for postoperative recurrence and risk stratification., Methods: Clinical data for 62 cases of spinal GCTB diagnosed and treated at our hospital from 2008 to 2018 were identified. All patients were followed up for more than 2 years according to the clinical guidelines after surgery. Medical history data including baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of recurrent and non-recurrent patients were compared. Two musculoskeletal radiologists read the images and were blinded to the clinical data. The imaging features associated with postoperative recurrence were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cutoff value of the largest lesion diameter predicting recurrence after surgery., Results: According to whether the disease recurred within the follow-up period, patients were divided into the recurrence group and the non-recurrence group. Of 62 patients (29 males and 33 females), 17 had recurrence and 45 did not. The recurrence rate was 27.4%. The mean follow-up time was 73.66 (± 32.92) months. The three major treatments were total en bloc spondylectomy (n = 26), intralesional spondylectomy (n = 20), and curettage(n = 16). A total of 16 CT and MRI features were analyzed. A univariate analysis showed no significant difference in age, sex, treatment, multi-vertebral body involvement, location, boundary, expansile mass, residual bone crest, paravertebral soft tissue mass, CT value, and MRI signal on T1-weighted imaging (WI), T2-WI, and T2-WI fat suppression (FS) sequences (P > 0.05). The largest lesion diameter [(4.68 ± 1.79) vs (5.92 ± 2.17) cm, t = 2.287, P = 0.026] and the vertebral compression fracture (51% vs 82%, χ 2  = 5.005, P = 0.025) were significantly different between the non-recurrence and recurrence groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that both largest lesion diameter (odds ratio [OR], 1.584; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.108-2.264; P = 0.012) and compression fracture (OR, 8.073; 95%CI, 1.481-11.003; P = 0.016) were independent predictors of postoperative recurrence. When we set the cutoff value for the largest lesion diameter at 4.2 cm, the sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing the recurrence and non-recurrence of GCTB were 94.1% and 42.2%, respectively, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.671. The combined model achieved a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 47.1%, 97.8% and 83.9%, respectively., Conclusions: In spinal GCTB, maximum lesion diameter and the vertebral compression fracture are associated with tumor recurrence after surgery, which may provide helpful information for planning personalized treatment., (© 2021 The Authors. Orthopaedic Surgery published by Chinese Orthopaedic Association and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

In recent years, denosumab has been used to treat giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB) not only in cases where surgery is complicated but also preoperatively to decrease the preoperative grade or to facilitate surgery for Campanacci grade II and III cases. However, there are no clear protocols regarding the preoperative use of denosumab before en bloc resection. There are a few reports of recurrent cases after en bloc resection; however, the association with the use of denosumab is unknown. We present the clinical, radiological and histopathological findings of a case of Campanacci grade III GCTB at the distal end of the ulna, which resulted in soft tissue recurrence after en bloc resection with the preoperative use of denosumab., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: The aim of the study was to report the clinical outcomes of repair of massive-cavity bone defects after extensive curettage of Campanacci grade II or III giant cell tumor (GCT) around knee with vascularized fibular autograft and cancellous allograft., Methods: There were 12 consecutive patients with Campanacci grade II or III GCT around knee treated in our department between 2004 and 2016. All the patients underwent clinical evaluation, plain radiography, and/or magnetic resonance imaging of the knee right after admission. To preserve their knee function, we repaired the massive-cavity bone defects after extensive curettage of GCT by vascularized fibular autografts and cancellous allograft. All the patients were evaluated through clinical examinations, plain radiography of the knee and chest, and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scores of the lower extremity in the follow-ups., Results: The follow-up ranged from 1.5 to 12.0 years (mean, 4.2 years). There were no local recurrences or lung metastasis in any of the 12 patients at the last follow-up. Ten patients had no pain or experienced occasional pain, and 9 were able to resume their previous work. The mean range of motion of knee flexion was 117 degrees, and the extension was -6 degrees. The mean MSTS score was 24.7, and a total of 10 patients had excellent or good MSTS scores., Conclusions: It is reliable to achieve knee joint salvage and repair massive-cavity bone defects after extensive curettage with vascularized fibular autograft and cancellous allograft in patients with Campanacci grade II or III GCT around the knee., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: partial support from the Guangzhou Planned Project of Science and Technology (no. 201707010261). The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Approximately 2% to 9% of giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) metastasizes systemically, mainly to the lungs. The biological behaviors and clinical courses of lung metastases are difficult to predict, and their treatment recommendations vary, including metastasectomy and non-metastasectomy with chemotherapy (denosumab, interferon-alfa, bisphosphonates), with radiation therapy, or with observation alone. However, it is unclear whether metastasectomy for GCTB lung metastases decreases the mortality rate of these patients. Therefore, the authors performed this systematic review to compare metastasectomy and non-metastasectomy for GCTB patients with operable lung metastasis. Of the 919 relevant studies, 16 studies (138 patients) were included for analysis; 61.6% of patients had metastasectomy and 38.4% had non-metastasectomy. Analysis showed that mortality rates were similar for the patients who had metastasectomy compared with those who did not; the proportion of patients who died of disease was 7.1% in the metastasectomy group and 17.0% in the non-metastasectomy group, with an overall pooled odds ratio of 0.64 ( P =.36). Therefore, physicians should reconsider the potential risks and benefits of metastasectomy for patients with GCTB and lung metastasis, because metastasectomy does not reduce the mortality rate in these patients. [ Orthopedics . 2021;44(6):e707-e712.].

We performed a systematic analysis of existing studies to determine whether preoperative denosumab reduces the risk of local recurrence for patients with giant cell tumor of bone treated with en bloc resection and to address the optimal duration of preoperative denosumab with respect to the risk of local recurrence after en bloc resection. Denosumab did not decrease the risk of local recurrence after en bloc resection; the proportion of patients with local recurrence was 3.6% (2 of 56) in the en bloc resection with preoperative denosumab group vs 14.2% (40 of 280) in the en bloc resection alone group, with an overall pooled odds ratio of 0.76 ( P =.67). Meta-regression models revealed no association between the duration of preoperative denosumab and the odds of local recurrence after en bloc resection ( P =.83). Administration of denosumab for 3 months before en bloc resection is appropriate for sufficient bone hardening to reduce tumor cell spillage and does not result in denosumab-related complications. [ Orthopedics . 2021;44(6):326-332.].

Purpose: Giant cell tumors of sacrum in which surgery could endanger important neural components were treated with short term denosumab, angioembolisation and radiotherapy in different combinations to provide a non-operative function preserving treatment option., Methods: Between April 2013 and April 2017, 13 sacral GCTs [proximal extent of disease-S1 (10), S2 (2) and S3 (1)] were treated. Age ranged from 20 to 50 years. One patient had loss of bladder control at presentation. Treatment protocol included short term denosumab, angioembolisation and radiotherapy in different combinations. Patients were evaluated every 10-12 weeks. If disease ceased to progress no further treatment was advised. In case of progress, patient was advised additional denosumab and/or angioembolisation and/or radiotherapy till disease stopped progressing., Results: 10 patients have non-progressive disease and are asymptomatic, 2 have non-progressive disease with occasional pain, 1 patient died. Follow-up duration (since final non-progression of disease) ranged from 15 to 54 months (mean 31 months). Total number of angio embolisation sessions ranged from 0 to 12 (mean = 4), total number of denosumab doses ranged from 5 to 16 (mean = 9). Five patients did not receive any radiotherapy, 5 received 50.4 Gy and one patient each received 50.4 + 30 + 12 Gy, 50.4 + 30 Gy and 50.4 + 12 Gy. The patient with loss of bladder control at presentation recovered. There were no other long-term complications., Conclusion: This study offers a non-surgical management option that provides good mid-term local control while preserving neurological function in these complex lesions., (© 2020. Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)