Scapula and proximal humerus are the most frequent site of primary bone tumors of upper limb. Surgical reconstruction after resection, aimed to obtain a stable painful limb and active motion of the shoulder. Three major key-points can affect functional results: intra- or extra-articular resection, ability to offer a strength fixation of rotator cuff tendons, and remaining function of the deltoid muscle after resection. When most of the deltoid muscle is active associated with an intra-articular resection, recent results of reversed prosthesis are very promising in terms of active motion. For other cases, conventional or tumor prosthesis can be proposed, but inefficience of rotator cuff tendons fixation on a prosthesis leads to very poor restoration of active motion. Arthrodesis is an attractive option in this situation for young patients. In all cases, impairment of the shoulder function is the rule after resection, complication rate is high, and long-term deterioration of the reconstruction is frequent. Moreover, cosmetic results are always poor.
Keywords: allograft; arthrodesis; bone tumor; humerus; reconstruction; reversed prosthesis; scapula.