Volume 7, Issue 2 (5-2020)                   J. Res. Orthop. Sci. 2020, 7(2): 79-86 | Back to browse issues page


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Jami S A, Jiandang S. Translated Article: Resection of a Rare Proximal Radius Malignant Chondrosarcoma (Grade III) Bone Tumor and Reconstruction of the Forearm Functionality: A Case Report. J. Res. Orthop. Sci. 2020; 7 (2) :79-86
URL: http://jros.iums.ac.ir/article-1-2059-en.html
1- Department of Spinal Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China.
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1. Introduction
Cartilage tumor can occur at any age but is more common in adult men [1]. Chondrosarcoma in the proximal middle part of the radius is rare. Also, after extensive radius resection, forearm function reconstruction methods are rarely reported. Postoperative bone defects often require reconstruction of tumor prosthesis or bone graft [2]. Our department of spine orthopedics admitted a patient with chondrosarcoma of the proximal radius bone. After the general resection, the distal ulna and the radius were used for the forearm support skeleton. After 2 years follow-up, the bones of the reconstructed site healed well, and the function of the forearm restored, with no tumor recurrence. 
2. Case Presentation
Clinical information
First: general information
A 36-year-old male patient, due to the right forearm pain for 21 months, admitted to the hospital. The patient had no obvious cause of proximal right forearm swelling since 21 months ago. It was sore and uncomfortable, and the pain was aggravated during exercise. Two months ago, the patient complained of the right elbow joint pain. A mass can be felt on the outside of the joint by touch, gradually increasing in size and aggravating pain. Local hospital x-ray showed cystic expansive bone destruction in the proximal radius. The pain got more serious later, and he visited our hospital.
Second: preoperative examination
On physical examination of the right swollen forearm on the anterior lateral side and the local part a 3×4 cm hard mass, with unclear boundary, poor mobility, and local tenderness was visible. Sputum pain was positive. Right upper extremity limb distal blood supply and skin acupuncture were normal. Right elbow flexion of the joint was slightly restricted, but the extension, pronation, and supination of the arm were normal.
Laboratory examination results were blood routine as white blood cell count, 4.86×109/L; medium granulocyte count, 0.06×109/L; and the platelet count, 223.0×109/L. Protein content was 156.0 g/L and 2 biochemical complete set: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and procalcitonin were normal. Tumor marker examination of prostate-specific antigen, carbohydrate antigen CA19-9, CA12-5, and α-fetoprotein was normal.
On imaging examination, right ulnar radius and lateral side x-ray showed right radius cystic distension of bone in the proximal midsection, bone destruction, almost involving the full length of the radius, considering the bony exposure to disease. CT and 3D reconstruction of the right ulnar radius showed cortical thickening and bone density of the medullary cavity was abnormal, having a long-range of lesions, considering the possibility of osteomyelitis. The right elbow joint MRI scan showed the disappearance of the normal shape of the upper radius and there was an enlargement. Abnormal signals in the bone marrow cavity with edema and thickening of the surrounding periosteum and right radius adjacent, near soft tissue swelling, should be differentiated from eosinophilic granuloma and Ewing’s sarcoma. The whole-body CT scan showed abnormal nuclide concentration in the proximal and middle portion of the radius, considering tumor lesions.
Third: pathological examination and diagnosis
After admission, a CT-guided core trocar puncture biopsy was performed. A grey and white bone tissue with a volume of 0.3×0.3×0.3 cm was observed by the naked eye. The pathological report was a homogeneous powder stain with cartilaginous visible in the right radius. Cells were considered chondrosarcoma.
Fourth: surgical treatment and reconstruction of forearm support function
Under general anesthesia, the right proximal radius bone tumor was extensively excised and the ulna was far away. Internal fixation was done with titanium plate screws for segmental osteotomy, proximal ulna, and distal radius. An intraoperative right radial bone tumor is cantered, and a posterolateral longitudinal incision was made. The exposure included the proximal radius of soft tissue tumor mass free from the tumor boundary (Figure 1). According to the preoperative MRI intramedullary tumor invasion range (the tumor length is 15 cm), the small radius head was exposed to a distance of 18 cm, which is 3 cm outside the tumor size. We cut the radius internally and removed the proximal and middle portion segment of the radius containing the tumor about 3.6 cm. After the operation, the bone tissue was removed and sent to the pathology examination. 

Reconstruction of forearm support function 
The wound was rinsed with distilled water. The instruments and gloves were replaced. The ulna was exposed and truncated at the level of the radial osteotomy, then it was closed and the radial fracture ends were remnant. The wrist joint was slightly rotated, and the titanium plate screw was satisfactory fit after the alignment and joint was fixed. The attention was paid to the pressure at the broken end, and the forearm support skeleton was reconstructed. Finally, the incision was closed. The forearm sling was used to fix the affected location in the functional position (Figure 2).
Fifth: postoperative pathological examination
Bone tissue removed from the radius had a length of 18 cm and a diameter of 4 cm. The greyish and whitish tumor tissue can be seen in the medullary cavity with a length of 15 cm. The tumor tissue quality was plastic brittle; the naked eye could inspect the soft tissue around the bone. Microscopically, the mass was composed of chondrocytes and cartilage matrix. It is lobulated and invasive. Pathological diagnosis was right radial chondrosarcoma (grade III); no tumor tissue was seen at the margin.
Six: postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy and follow-up
The patient’s postoperative pain was relieved. The length of both limbs was equal, and the forearm shape was normal. One month after surgery, three courses of pirarubicin, ifosfamide, recombinant human vascular endothelial inhibition chemotherapy were performed. Also radiation therapy was performed at the same time with the proximal boundary of the level of the olecranon, and the distal boundary of the distal radius, the medial border is the ulnar cortex and the lateral border was the muscle layer. 
The prescription dose of 95% PTV 64 Gy/2 Gy/32 f, 32 times radiotherapy was completed. The fourth cycle of chemotherapy was performed 3 months after surgery. Postoperative x-ray films showed bone grafting fused nicely and the reconstructed bone healed up 3 months after surgery. The bone end fused completely 2 years after surgery (Figure 3). During the follow-up and 2 years after surgery, the appearance of the right forearm was normal, and there was no dislocation on the elbow and wrist joints. No tumor recurrence was observed. The forearm motor functions were elbow flexion 120°, straightening 0°, forearm anterior rotation 45°, posterior rotation 80°, the dorsal extension of wrist 10°, palm flexion 40°, wrist joint adduction 10°, and abduction 20° (Figure 4). Elbow joint Mayo score was excellent, and the wrist joint Mayo scored well. Only forearm rotation and wrist extension and palm flexion were mildly limited that were not affected daily life. 
3. Discussion 
Chondrosarcoma is the formation of cartilage-like tissue by tumor cells, which can occur in any bone, but is commonly seen in long bones. The tumor reported in this article is extremely rare.
Malignant chondrosarcomas are pathologically classified as classical chondrosarcoma by pathology (grade I~III). Low-grade malignant chondrosarcoma has a good overall prognosis but is highly invasive; chondrosarcoma has a high metastatic rate and is not sensitive to chemotherapy or radiotherapy [3]. Wide resection is the primary choice of treatment. If intraoperative is not possible to meet the boundary requirements for extended resection, it is often necessary to perform radiotherapy in the surgical field [4]. The patient’s tumor pathology grade was III, and the clinical stage was II A (G1T1M0).
We performed extensive tumor resection plus postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. No tumor recurrence was seen in 2 years follow-up, and the treatment outcome was good. After extensive resection of bone, the patient needed a lot of bone reconstruction, and the function of elbow and wrist joints should be guaranteed as much as possible. At present, the reconstruction method mainly uses its own body bone graft, allogeneic bone graft, and prosthesis replacement, but most of them are used for bone reconstruction after radial-distal tumor resection [5]. 
The Chondrosarcoma at the proximal midpoint of the radius is rare, and reconstruction methods are rarely reported. Song et al. reported the reconstruction method of one case of resection of the proximal radius giant cell tumor, in which polyethylene lining was used as the radial head prosthesis [6]. A pin was inserted into the radial bone marrow cavity as the prosthesis handle, and nylon mesh covered the surface to attach the biceps tendon. 
Zhu et al. treated several patients with proximal radius bone tumor, the autogenous ilium was implanted in the bone defect after surgery, and elastic intramedullary nails were placed in the radial bone cavity [7]. Sakayama et al. used proximal radius total resection treatment of giant bone cell tumor of the proximal radius, bone cement-filled at the defect site and the elbow joint was constructed by floating comb bone [8]. 
All the above reconstruction plans have achieved some short-term results, but there is a lack of strong clinical evidence. In this case, the patient’s tumor involved the proximal and middle section of the radius and nearly the whole length of the bone (only 3.6 cm was left in the distal radius after the resection of the tumor). As the radial bone defect was large, the prosthesis and bone cement filling could not be used for reconstruction. The ulna contributes the most to the elbow joint, while radial bone contributes to the wrist joint. In this case, we choose autologous ulnar osteotomy to reconstruct the forearm bone scaffold with the proximal ulna and distal residual radius, avoiding complex surgical procedures and utilizing the most reliable healing properties of autologous bone, which was the most economical choice in this case. 
The patient was followed up two years after surgery. The patient’s forearm appearance was excellent, the elbow joint flexion and extension were normal, and only the dorsal extension and abduction function of the wrist was slightly limited. However, the right hand functional impact was less affected, and the daily living ability was close to normal. 
4. Conclusion
It is important to reconstruct the forearm support structure and function by fusion with the metallic implant of the proximal, middle ulna, and the distal radius. It was an excellent alternative treatment of such malignant chondrosarcoma grade III tumor.
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
The patient has given written consent to use his information. The Ethics Committee of Ningxia Medical University General Hospital permitted to use the patient’s information and approved this manuscript for publication.
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or non-profit sectors.
Authors' contributions
Conceptualization and writing-original draft: Shi Jiandang, Sayed Abdulla Jami; Investigation: Sayed Abdulla Jami, Zhanwen Zhou, and Liu Chang Hao; Methodology, resources, and writing-review & Editing: All authors; Supervision: Shi Jiandang.
Conflict of interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.


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Type of Study: Case Report | Subject: Knee surgery
Received: 2019/08/14 | Accepted: 2020/05/12 | Published: 2020/05/30

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