A management strategy for giant cell tumor of the metacarpal: A single-center series of 11 cases

Abstract Background Primary giant cell tumor (GCT) arising from bones of hand are rare to occur. Metacarpals are often the most common site of involvement among hand bones. There are no uniform guidelines for treatment of GCT involving metacarpals due to lack of relevant literature. Objective To suggest a management strategy for GCT involving metacarpals. Methods Retrospective review of cases of GCT involving metacarpals over a period of 15 years from 2005 to 2019 managed at department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Results A total of 12 cases of GCT involving metacarpal were included, out of which one was lost to follow-up. Four cases were recurrent, and seven were primary at the time of surgery. All the patients were operated with wide excision of the tumor. In seven patients reconstruction of the metacarpal and MCPJ was done using fibular strut graft and silastic artificial joint, while in two patients, MCPJ arthrodesis was performed using fibula and/or iliac crest bone graft. In another two patients, the MCPJ was reconstructed using reversed vascularised toe transfer. Mean follow up of the patients was 3.22 ± 2.07 years. Mean Quick DASH score at latest follow-up of patients operated with silastic joint reconstruction, reversed vascularised toe transfer and arthrodesis of MCP joints were 30.5 ± 9.5, 25 ± 2.3 and 39.8 ± 3.4 respectively. Local recurrence occurred only in one patient at one year after surgery. All the patients were pain free at latest follow-up with quite functional and cosmetically acceptable hand. Conclusion Reversed vascularised metatarsal transfer has obtained better functional results compared to reconstruction with fibular grafting and silicone joint replacement but due to technical difficulties, vascularised joint transfer may not be performed in every setting and there is risk of donor site morbidities with this technique. Our strategy for the treatment of GCT involving metacarpal was to do vascularised joint transfer or arthrodesis for border digits and reconstruction with silicone joint for central digits.