# Case Report: Adult proximal humeral aneurysmal bone cyst: radical resection and reconstruction with osteoconductive allograft & reverse arthroplasty—Ecuador's first reported case and functional outcomes

**Authors:** Gabriel Gamecho Arteaga, Henry Hernández, Chrystian X. Mestanza, Jaime Zurita, Marlon Arias-Intriago, Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2025.1704393 · Frontiers in Surgery · 2025-11-04

## TL;DR

This case report describes the successful treatment of a rare adult bone cyst in Ecuador using advanced surgical techniques and highlights the importance of tailored approaches in orthopedic oncology.

## Contribution

The paper presents Ecuador's first reported case of adult proximal humeral aneurysmal bone cyst and its innovative surgical management.

## Key findings

- Radical en bloc resection combined with single-stage reconstruction achieved functional restoration in an adult ABC case.
- Hybrid graft-prosthesis strategies using osteoconductive allograft and reverse arthroplasty showed promising outcomes.
- Molecular diagnostics are recommended to confirm primary lesions and guide treatment decisions.

## Abstract

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.

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.

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.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** aneurysmal bone cyst (MONDO:0018815)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** restricted shoulder mobility (MESH:D000070599), ABCs (MESH:D017824), pain (MESH:D010146), swelling (MESH:D004487)

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12623357/full.md

## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12623357/full.md

## References

26 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12623357/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12623357