Fate of frozen intercalary allograft at one year after implantation with adjuvant chemotherapy treatment. A case report.

Abstract

The proximal humerus of a 21-year-old man was reconstructed with a frozen allograft combined with a Neer shoulder prosthesis. At graft retrieval one year later, the proximal end of the allograft had revascularized with some osteogenic activity, but distally neither vascular ingrowth nor osteogenic activity was seen. Allografts should not be used unsupported because of their potential weakness with time. Intramedullary stems should be used to support functional allografts which primarily facilitate soft-tissue reattachment.