Hemiarthroplasty of Pedicle-Frozen Proximal Tibia for Primary Malignant Bone Tumours

The proximal tibia is one of the most common locations for primary malignant bone tumours and is usually seen in a population that has not attained skeletal maturity. Most of the surgical techniques for resection and reconstruction of the proximal tibia in children involves sacrificing the distal femoral epiphysis, which leads to a significant limb length discrepancy. Hemiarthroplasty is a relatively lesser known technique for knee joint reconstruction that preserves one of the epiphyses around the knee joint. Pedicle freezing is a sterilization technique used to treat malignant bone tumours, without performing an osteotomy of the diaphysis, thereby preventing non-union which is the most common complication of biological reconstruction techniques. We describe the surgical technique of hemiarthroplasty of the pedicle-frozen proximal tibia for malignant bone tumours of the proximal tibia. This is a novel, safe and effective reconstructive method in children, resulting in reduced limb length discrepancy and excellent functional outcomes.