The application of bone cement to fill the surgical defect after resection of a giant-cell tumor: A case report.

Background. A case of a large bone defect treated with bone cement filler is discussed, and the usefulness and advantages of this treatment method are assessed. Case report. A 25-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with an intra-articular pathological fracture of the lateral femoral condyle due to an underlying giant cell tumor (stage I according to the Enneking classification). The tumor was surgically resected, and the walls of the post-operative bone defect were treated with a burr. The defect was then filled with bone cement (PMMA). The tumor was found to be histologically benign. Post-surgical treatment included immobilization in a cylinder cast and no weight bearing for a period of 8 weeks. The follow-up included frequent check-ups and repeated radiographs and CT scans. The follow-up period was 7 years, during which time no clinical or radiological signs of tumor recurrence were found. There was visible osteosclerosis surrounding the bone cement filler, which is believed to be a prognostically favorable finding, associated with a low risk of recurrence. The functional outcome of treatment was assessed with the Knee Rating Score. The patient gained a knee score of 100 points and a functional score of 100 points. Conclusions. The use of bone cement in order to fill a bone defect after tumor excision proved to be an effective and safe method to manage a giant-cell tumor of the bone. This method provided good biomechanical circumstances and allowed for good follow-up, as it enabled easy detection of possible tumor recurrence.