Objective To assess the clinical effect of tumor-type prosthesis replacement for treatment of giant cell tumors of bone near the joints. Methods Thirty-seven patients with giant cell tumors of bone near the joints from January 1998 to January 2008 were reviewed. 18 were males and 19 were females. The ages ranged from 19 to 64 and the median age was 32 years old. The anatomic site of the lesions spreaded at distal femur(23 cases) , proximal tibia(10 cases),proximal humerus(3 cases) and proximal femur(1 case). According to Companacci's staging system: 9 patients were classified as grade II and 28 as grade Ⅲ. All patients had been treated with block excision and reconstruction with prosthesis. The functional outcomes were evaluated by MSTS 93 score. Results According to the follow-up for 2 -9 years,1 patient (4. 3% ) had local recurrence and underwent amputation of the diseased limb. As for the complications, periprosthesis infection occurred in 1 patient, prosthesis loosening in 2 patients. The average MSTS 93 score was 22. 49 ±5. 16 in 3 years after surgery. The evaluated functional result revealed excellent or good performance in 89. 2% of the patients. Conclusions Tumor-type prosthesis replacement is an effective procedure to reduce the local recurrence,and to restore joint function.