Giant cell tumor of the distal end of the radius treated by the resection and free vascularized iliac crest graft.

Juxtaarticular giant cell tumor involving the distal radius presents a special problem of reconstruction after tumor excision. A tailored block of vascularized iliac crest graft with its feeding artery (i.e., the deep circumflex iliac artery) joined to the ulnar artery was used as a replacement for the resected distal radius, thereby creating a new wrist joint. Excellent graft survivals were observed in all four cases. The wrists, when assessed 24-48 months after surgery, were found to have good ranges of movement, although with mild dorsal subluxation. These results compared well with other means of wrist reconstruction (i.e., the vascularized fibular graft). Although conventional means of arthrodesis give acceptable hand function, the absence of wrist motion is unacceptable to the young and active, who may prefer the method described in this article.