Abstract:
To compare the therapeutic outcomes of curettages with bone graft and with bone cement filling for initial non-malignant giant cell tumor (GCT; including Jaffe's pathological grade I and II) of long extremity bones. Methods: A retrospective review of treatment outcomes was performed in 64 patients with initial non-malignant GCTs of long extremity bones. These patients were treated in our hospital between January 2004 and January 2008. Their GCTs were proven by surgical pathology, and were followed up for more than 3 years. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the treatment method. Group 1 consisted of 38 patients ( 17 males and 21 females ) who were 19 to 59 years old ( the mean age was 29.0 years old ). This group was treated by curettage of tumor and bone transplantation. By Jaffe's classification, 9 patients had Grade I GCT and 29 patients had Grade II. Group 2 consisted of 26 patients ( 15 males and 11 females ) who were 21 to 53 years old ( the mean age was 31.2 years old ). This group was treated by curettage of tumor and packing the cavity with bone cement. By Jaffe's classification, 5 patients had Grade I GCT and 21 patients had Grade II. Results: The therapeutic outcomes were evaluated according to Mankin's standard. For grades I and II GCT with curettage, the recurrence rate after 1 year in the bone cement packing group ( 7.7% ) was lower than that of the bone grafting group (31.6%) ( χ2 = 5.15, P < 0.05 ). The recurrence rates after 1 year of grade II GCT in the two groups were 9.5% and 34.5%, respectively. The differences were significant ( χ2 = 4.16, P < 0.05 ). For grades I and II GCT with curettage, the recurrence rate after 3 years in the bone cement packing group ( 15.4% ) was lower than that of the bone grafting group ( 44.7% ) ( χ2 = 6.03, P < 0.05 ). The recurrence rates after 3 years of grade II GCT in the two groups were 14.3% and 48.3%, respectively. The differences were significant ( χ2 = 6.27, P < 0.05 ). Conclusion: For curettaged initial non-malignant GCT of long bones, the 1- and 3-year therapeutic outcomes of bone cement treatment were better than those of bone graft treatment.