Limb salvage for proximal tibial tumours using a modular prosthesis

We report early results after the resection of proximal tibial rumours foll owed by reconstruction using a modular prosthesis. The indication for wide resection was a malignant tumour in 13 patients, and a neglected giant cell tumour in 2. There were no mechanical failures during an average follow-up of 3.5 years. However, there were 5 peroneal nerve palsies, 1 complete sci atic nerve palsy, 1 vascular injury leading to an above knee amputation, an d 2 deep prosthetic infections. There were 2 superficial skin necroses and 1 fracture proximal to the femoral prosthetic component. The mean post-oper ative Musculo-Skeletal Tumour Society (MSTS) score in 12 patients who still had their prosthesis in situ was 18.3 out of a possible total of 30 (range : 10-28). Limb salvage surgery in the proximal tibia has a high early compl ication rate even with the use of modern implants and improved techniques.