Osteosarcoma of the distal radius treated by en bloc resection and reconstruction with a fibular shaft preserving the radiocarpal joint: A case report

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor. The distal radius is a relatively common skeletal site for primary bone tumors, but not for osteosarcoma. It is difficult to treat Osteosarcoma of the distal radius; however, skeletal reconstruction and functional restoration following en bloc resection may be a promising technique. This report presents a 17-year-old male with osteosarcoma of the distal radius that was treated by en bloc resection and reconstruction using a fibular shaft to preserve the radiocarpal joint. After six months, radiographs revealed that the grafted fibular bone had healed well with the host bone. Physical examination demonstrated that active dorsiflexion of the affected wrist was to 90° and palmer flexion was to 45°. Fourteen months after surgery there was no evidence of wrist deformity, instability, metastasis or local recurrence. Therefore, this technique preserved the important structures and the joint surface for wrist stability and effective function.