High-grade pleomorphic sarcoma associated with an orthopedic implant: a rare case report

The use of prosthetic implants and metallic materials is widespread in modern orthopedic surgery. Generally, these materials are non-toxic and inert. Nevertheless, a few cases of malignancy associated with certain implants have been documented in the literature. It has been reported that some components of these implants have carcinogenic properties. In most cases, these tumors are high-grade sarcomas that occur in the bone or soft tissue adjacent to the implant site. Here we present the case of a 53-year-old patient who underwent intramedullary nailing of the tibia and developed a pleomorphic sarcoma at the implant site 18 years later.