The use of a bone allograft for reconstruction after resection of giant-cell tumor close to the knee.

The results of bone-allograft reconstruction after the resection of giant-cell tumor close to the knee were reviewed in fifty-two patients (fifty-five allografts), who had been followed for a mean of seven years (range, two to twenty-four years). One giant-cell tumor was graded as stage 1; twenty, as stage 2; and thirty-one, as stage 3. Three reconstructions were repeated transplants that were done after the failure of a previous transplant. Ten allograft reconstructions were intercalary and were combined with an arthrodesis of the knee, and forty-five were osteoarticular. Major complications included infection (after three reconstructions), resorption of the graft (six), collapse of the articular surface (two), fracture (two), and recurrence (one). According to the criteria described by Mankin et al. for functional analysis, forty-two (76 per cent) of the extremities had a result that was considered to be excellent or good. Radiographic evaluation according to the system of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society showed a mean score of 72 per cent for osteoarticular reconstructions, and of 86 per cent for intercalary reconstructions.