FRESH OSTEOCHONDRAL TRANSPLANTS IN TREATM ENT OF ADVANCED GIANT-CELL TUMORS

Eighteen patients with advanced giant cell tumors were treated with co mplete tumor resection and reconstruction using fresh osteochondral al lografts. All patients had one or more of the following indications fo r tumor resection (as opposed to curettage): tumor recurrence, patholo gical fracture, or destruction of the subchondral bone plate. At the 4 - to 16-year follow-up (mean 9 years), two grafts were revised to a se cond fresh graft because of fracture, one graft was converted to an al lograft implant compositie and two joints were fused because of infect ion. The functional results were assessed in 14 patients: 9 were good or excellent, 4 fair and 1 poor. We conclude that the fresh osteochond ral allograft is a viable treatment alternative to prosthetic replacem ent in advanced benign, aggressive bone tumors.