Author(s)

Alidou Traoré¹, Karim Tribak², Brahima Doukouré³, Daouda Kanaté Soumaro¹, Slim Alban Mbende⁴, Sidi Yaya Traoré¹, Rebecca Eva Boka¹, Christian Delloye²

¹Trauma and Orthopaedic Unit, Yopougon Teaching Hospital, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
²St-Luc University Clinics (UCL), Brussels, Belgium.
³Department of Pathology, Cocody Teaching Hospital, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
⁴Neurosurgery Unit, Yopougon Teaching Hospital, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Bone tumors are infrequent within the scapula. Total scapulectomy with massive allograft reconstruction represents an attractive alternative to amputation when the whole scapula is invaded with tumor and the neurovascular bundle can be preserved during tumor resection. We report a case of resection of the scapula and proximal humerus for recurrent osteosarcoma with massive allograft reconstruction of the scapula and proximal humerus. A 22-year-old male patient was seen in February 1992 for a pathological fracture of the proximal left humerus. In July 1992, a resection of the proximal end of the humerus followed by a reconstruction with osteochondral allograft and nail osteosynthesis was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. In September 2009, 17 years later, the patient presented with a huge tumor developed at the level of the scapula. There was no vascular or neurological symptom. Plain radiography showed an expansive osteolytic mass. CT scan demonstrated scapular and proximal humerus invasion. An extended assessment revealed the presence of two pulmonary nodules. The biopsy confirmed the recurrence of osteosarcoma. The indication of a resection of both the left scapula and the 1992 allograft which was completely invaded at its proximal portion and the complete reconstruction of the scapula and the proximal humerus with allograft was made. One year postoperatively, we note a favourable outcome in terms of musculoskeletal functions. Despite two resection surgeries of pulmonary nodules and chemotherapy treatments, the patient developed new lung metastases and an unfavourable outcome. Although shoulder function was almost completely eliminated following surgery, preservation of elbow, wrist and finger motion resulted in an acceptable level of postoperative limb function. This reconstruction appears to be an attractive technique to be used in similar cases. The necessity of a reliable tissue bank with quality allografts in sufficient number is paramount.

Osteosarcoma, Scapula, Proximal Humerus, Allograft

Traoré, A. , Tribak, K. , Doukouré, B. , Soumaro, D. , Mbende, S. , Traoré, S. , Boka, R. and Delloye, C. (2015) Shoulder Reconstruction with Massive Scapular-Proximal Humerus Osteoarticular Allograft after Total Scapulectomy for Proximal Humerus Osteosarcoma Recurrence. Open Journal of Orthopedics, 5, 390-399. doi: 10.4236/ojo.2015.512052.