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CASE REPORT article

Front. Surg.

Sec. Orthopedic Surgery

Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2025.1704393

This article is part of the Research TopicThe Application of Novel Biomaterials and Emerging Techniques in Musculoskeletal DisordersView all 8 articles

Adult Proximal Humeral Aneurysmal Bone Cyst: Radical Resection and Reconstruction with Osteoconductive Allograft & Reverse Arthroplasty— Ecuador's First Reported Case and Functional Outcomes

Provisionally accepted
Gabriel  Gamecho ArteagaGabriel Gamecho Arteaga1Henry  HernándezHenry Hernández1Chrystian  X. MestanzaChrystian X. Mestanza1Jaime  ZuritaJaime Zurita1Marlon  Arias-IntriagoMarlon Arias-Intriago2Juan  S. Izquierdo-CondoyJuan S. Izquierdo-Condoy3*
  • 1Hospital Carlos Andrade Marin, Quito, Ecuador
  • 2Hospital Oncologico Solca Nucleo de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
  • 3Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

Abstract Introduction: Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are rare benign lesions, with adult cases being exceptionally uncommon. This report details a multidisciplinary approach for managing a proximal humeral ABC in an adult, emphasizing functional restoration. Case Presentation: A 36-year-old male presented with progressive pain, swelling, and restricted shoulder mobility. Imaging revealed an expansile lytic lesion with "soap-bubble" morphology. Histopathology confirmed a primary ABC. After failed conservative management, radical en bloc resection was performed, followed by single-stage reconstruction using osteoconductive allograft, reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and rotator cuff repair. Conclusion: This case demonstrates the efficacy of aggressive, single-stage reconstruction in adult ABCs, combining advanced orthopedic and oncologic principles. It advocates for molecular diagnostics to confirm primary lesions and supports hybrid graft-prosthesis strategies to optimize outcomes. The success of this approach provides a framework for managing rare, large ABCs in adults, encouraging further exploration of tailored surgical innovations in orthopedic oncology.

Keywords: Aneurysmal bone cyst, Proximal humerus, Reverse shoulder arthroplasty, Osteoconductive Allograft, case report

Received: 12 Sep 2025; Accepted: 20 Oct 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Gamecho Arteaga, Hernández, Mestanza, Zurita, Arias-Intriago and Izquierdo-Condoy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy, juan1izquierdo11@gmail.com

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