Prosthetic replacement due to giant-cell tumor in the proximal humerus. A case report

A 45-year-old woman with an extensive giant-cell tumor of the right proximal humerus was treated by segmental resection and shoulder reconstruction. A Neer prosthesis and allogeneic bone grafts were used to reconstruct the shoulder joint. Autogeneic iliac bone was placed at the host-graft junction. The rotator cuff was reattached to the bone after making a semicircular trough. The long head of the biceps was reattached with stay sutures after making a trough between reattachments of the supraspinatus and the subscapularis. The patient regained almost full range of motion and excellent muscle power of the shoulder 60 months after operation. She did not have any difficulty with daily tasks of living. The prosthesis articulated with the glenoid well. There has been no evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis.