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Professional Technical IVT

hemicortical resection

Pronunciation: HEM-ee-kor-tih-kul

Surgical removal of approximately half the circumferential cortex while preserving the medullary canal and remaining cortical bone.

Full Definition

Hemicortical resection is a bone-preserving surgical technique that involves removal of approximately half the circumferential cortex of a long bone while maintaining the integrity of the medullary canal and the remaining cortical bone. This approach is typically used for surface tumors such as parosteal osteosarcoma or aggressive benign lesions that involve only a portion of the bone's circumference. The procedure allows for tumor removal with adequate margins while preserving bone stock and mechanical strength better than intercalary resection. Reconstruction may involve bone grafting or cement augmentation to restore cortical continuity and strength.

Usage

Usage note: Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier.

In Context

  • "Hemicortical resection was performed for the parosteal osteosarcoma with immediate reconstruction using morselized allograft." — Operative report
  • "The surface location of the tumor made it amenable to hemicortical resection rather than intercalary reconstruction." — Preoperative planning note

Also known as

partial cortical resection cortical window excision

Contrasted with

circumferential resection total cortical resection

Don't confuse with

segmental resection intercalary resection

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