Massive allograft in salvage surgery for giant cell tumor of the proximal humerus

Introduction: The giant cell tumors are characterized by being locally aggressive and are associated with a wide biological spectrum. Proximal humerus tumors represent between 4% and 10% of all primary bone tumors.

There are various surgical limb salvage treatment strategies for proximal humeral giant cell tumor such as shoulder arthroplasties, arthrodesis, and massive allografts. 

In this article, we report a 20-year-old young adult with a giant cell tumor of the right proximal humerus who was managed using a limb salvage technique with the use of a massive allograft. 

Case presentation: A 20-year-old man presented with right shoulder pain associated with a sensation of a mass. He was diagnosed with a giant cell tumor. One year later, he developed a pathological fracture, and limb salvage surgery was performed, which included resection of the tumor lesion in the proximal humerus and reconstruction with a massive osteochondral allograft.

Conclusion: Giant cell tumors of the proximal humerus, although rare, represent a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to their anatomical location and proximity to crucial vascular and nerve structures. Salvage limb surgery using massive allografts proves to be a viable option for preserving the functionality.