Case Report of a Posterior Malleolus Metastasis: A Very Rare Metastasis Localization

J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2021 Mar 1;111(2):Article_18. doi: 10.7547/20-142.

Abstract

Metastasis of the distal tibia is quite rare. In this article, we present the case of a 58-year-old woman with distal tibial metastasis located in the posterior malleous caused by breast cancer. She had left ankle pain and nonweightbearing status that had been ongoing for 2 months and showed progression. The patient's Mirels score was 10. Limb salvage surgery was performed by removing the metastatic lesion by posterior ankle incision followed by applying a double plate from the posterior and the medial side of the distal tibia, and the defect was reconstructed with methylmethacrylate. Consequently, good stability was achieved. Radiotherapy consisting of 10 fractions (2000 cGy total) was applied to the distal tibia at postoperative week 3. There were no complications after surgery. No recurrence was observed at the 18-month follow-up of the patient. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score at the 18-month control of the patient was 86%. Use of curettage of the metastatic mass, double-plate application, and defect reconstruction with methylmethacrylate is an effective method for distal tibia metastases located in the posterior malleolus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Ankle Joint
  • Bone Plates
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms*
  • Tarsal Bones*
  • Tibia / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome