Abstract: Objective: To explore the surgical treatment of recurrent giant cell tumor of bone (GCT). Methods: A total of 51 cases of recurrent GCT in extremities that were seen during the period from January 1990 to December 2003 were reviewed. Twenty-two cases received extended curettage with adjuvant treatment of the capsule wall and functional reconstruction. Results: The mean follow-up was 36 months. Recurrence occurred for the second time in 8 cases and the overall rate of secondary local recurrence was 15.7%. The secondary recurrence rates after re-curettage and resection were 22.7% (5/22) and 11.5% (3/26), respectively. Complications during the surgical procedure accounted for 9.8% of the recurrent cases. Conclusion: Because of the self-limitation of these tumors, there is no overt lump that occurs with recurrence of GCT. New tumors are surgically removed again. Functional reconstruction after resection of the tumor can be conducted in the patients of Campanacci stage Ⅲ with evident formation of soft tissue lumps and some of the patients of Campanacci stage Ⅱ with major tumors. Extended curettage with adjuvant treatment of the capsule wall and functional reconstruction provides a satisfactory treatment for giant cell tumor of bone.