Functional Outcomes of Surgical Treatment for Giant Cell Tumors around the Knee

Giant cell tumour (GCT) of bone is a rare, benign yet locally aggressive neoplasm that frequently involves the epiphyseal-metaphyseal regions of long bones, especially around the knee.

This retrospective study evaluated 31 patients who underwent surgical treatment for GCT around the knee at a tertiary care center, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Patients were staged radiologically using Campanacci grading, with 11 Grade II and 20 Grade III tumors included. Treatment approaches involved extended curettage with sandwich procedures (polymethyl methacrylate cement), bone grafting (autologous or morselized allograft), and wide excision with endoprosthesis. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score. The mean MSTS scores were 28.91 for the sandwich procedure, 29.28 for bone grafting, 26.33 for curettage with allograft, and 27.83 for endoprosthesis. Complications were minimal, with one local recurrence and no infections reported. Revision surgeries were required in two patients for non-recurrence-related complications. Postoperative rehabilitation emphasized early mobilization, with tailored weight-bearing protocols based on the reconstruction technique.

This study highlights favorable outcomes across different surgical methods, emphasizing the utility of bone cement as an effective adjuvant in reducing recurrence rates. Limitations include the small sample size, retrospective nature, and lack of direct comparison across all methods.