Management of an Unusual Periprosthetic Giant Cell Tumor of Bone of the Proximal Tibia

Giant cell tumor of bone is a relatively rare type of bone tumor, accounting for approximately 4.9% to 9% of all primary osseous neoplasms.(1) Management options include intralesional curettage, or more uncommonly, wide resection. This process is then followed by reconstruction with bone graft or bone cementation. We present a case of giant cell tumor of bone adjacent to the tibial component of a preexisting total knee arthroplasty, treated with extensive curettage, argon beam coagulation, polymethyl methacrylate cementation with strut reinforcement, and mesh reconstruction of the extensor mechanism. Twenty months after treatment, the patient was recurrence free with a stable prosthesis and had return to functional activity. We report this treatment modality as a potentially effective method of approaching this rare orthopaedic entity.