Biological knee joint reconstruction using patella following giant cell tumor excision: a case report

A 20-year-old female patient presented to us with a large expansile swelling over right knee diagnosed clinically and confirmed histopathological and radiologically to be Giant Cell Tumor of upper end of Tibia involving both condyles with a breach in the posterior cortex. In this case report we tried to retain the joint function by biological reconstruction using the Patella after the wide excision of the tumor mass. A radical excision of the upper end of the Tibia was done. The Patella was used as an articular surface supported by ipsilateral Fibula and cortico-cancellous bone chips from the ipsilateral iliac crest as struts and complemented with synthetic bone graft pieces. Thus, the joint was reconstructed biologically. The case was followed for 1 year. The tumor was excised in toto, the knee joint was restored by the Patella and the bone graft struts. The results were discussed in detail.