Extracorporeally irradiated clavicle as an autograft in tumour surgery

We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with a lump in the mid-third of the left clavicle, which had recently increased in size to 10 cm in diameter. Plain X-ray, computed tomography and bone scans suggested that the lump was a parosteal osteosarcoma. Due to the expected 30% functional loss from claviculectomy [Wood in The results of total claviculectomy. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1986;207:186–90.], the patient opted for excision of the tumour plus the adjacent clavicle, irradiation and reimplantation of the bone with internal fixation. On 2-year follow-up, there was no evidence of recurrence or complications, with a good range of movement of the joint. On 4-year follow-up, the patient was found to have discomfort, and X-rays showed that the clavicle had fractured, which was managed symptomatically.