OBJECTIVETo analysis the clinical effects of free patellar implantation in treating the defect of the knee joint after the excision of giant cell tumor in the distal femur and the proximal tibia.

METHODSIf the giant cell tumor in the distal femur and the proximal tibia invaded the articular surface, we resected the condyle of femur or tibia including the tumor, dissociated the patella and placed it in the condyle horizontally to repair the articular surface. The cruciate ligament was reserved in all the patients. The condyle of femur or tibia was replaced by the anterior surface or the articular surface of the patella respectively. The implanted patella was fixed by the screw to the contralateral condyle, and the remaining defect was filled by autogenous cancellous illium.

RESULTSNine patients were followed up 3 to 121 months, the average was 65 months. None of them recurred or metastated. The excellent and good rate of the functional evaluation of knee joints was 88.9%.

CONCLUSIONAfter resecting the condyle of femur or tibia including the tumors which invade the articular surface, we find that free patellar implantation is a suitable way to repair the defect of the knee.