Fibula autograft survival following resection of osteoclastoma of radius.

GIANT-CELL tumours of bone may be malignant from the onset or malignancy may develop during treatment. They are, therefore, best treated by complete excision where this is surgically possible, with bone grafting of the resultant defect. A patient presented with an osteoclastoma of the lower end of the radius, which was completely excised and replaced by an autogenous fibula graft. The successful complete incorporation and function of this whole bone replacement, with satisfactory joint function, was followed by an injury and a fracture. The lack of radiological change within the grafted bone shaft, the normal appearance at subsequent operation, and delayed union following the fracture are of interest, and valuable when the incorporation of fresh autogenous bone grafts is compared with those whose viability has been destroyed.