Chondrosarcoma of the head of the fifth metacarpal treated with an iliac crest bone graft and concurrent Swanson's arthroplasty

Abstract

Chondrosarcomas are rare malignant tumours of the bone with hyaline cartilage differentiation - only 1.5% affect the hands. Currently there is a limited range of techniques available to reconstruct the metacarpophalengeal joints affected by such neoplasias. We report a 30-year-old lady who presented with a grade 2 chondrosarcoma in the epiphseal region of her fifth metacarpal who underwent enbloc resection of the affected metacarpal and immediate reconstruction, using a Swansons arthroplasty and non-vascularised iliac crest bone graft. Our findings are presented after follow-up of 9 years and we review the current reconstructive options available.

Keywords: Arthroplasty; Cancer; Case study; Chondrosarcoma; Hand; MCPJ; Metacarpal; Neoplasia; Reconstruction; Review; Swansons.