Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Intercalary Allograft Reconstruction for Lower-Extremity Bone Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Improved survival rates for patients with primary bone tumors of the extremities have increased the demand for reliable and durable reconstruction techniques. Some authors have stated that, after successful ingrowth, allografts are a durable long-term solution. This hypothesis is largely based on small studies with short-to-midterm follow-up. In order to determine the durability of intercalary allograft reconstructions in the lower extremities, we evaluated the long-term clinical outcomes at a minimum of 10 years. METHODS: All patients who received an intercalary allograft reconstruction in a lower extremity between 1980 and 2006 were included in this retrospective multicenter cohort study. One hundred and thirty-one patients with a median age of 19 years were included. Eighty-nine (68%) had a femoral reconstruction, and 42 (32%) had a tibial reconstruction. The most prevalent diagnoses were osteosarcoma (55%), Ewing sarcoma (17%), and chondrosarcoma (12%). The median follow-up was 14 years. A competing risk model was employed to estimate the cumulative incidences of mechanical failure and infection. Patient mortality or progression of the disease was used as a competing event. RESULTS: Nonunion occurred in 21 reconstructions (16%), after a median of 16 months, and was associated with intramedullary nail-only fixation (p < 0.01) and fixation with nonbridging plate(s) (p = 0.03). Allograft fracture occurred in 25 reconstructions (19%) after a median of 42 months (range, 4 days to 21.9 years). Thirteen (52%) of the allograft fractures occurred within 5 years; 8 (32%), between 5 and 10 years; and 4 (16%), at >10 years. With failure for mechanical reasons as the end point, the cumulative incidences of reconstruction failure at 5, 10, and 15 years were 9%, 14%, and 21%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intercalary allograft reconstruction is an acceptable reconstructive option, mainly because of the absence of superior alternatives with a known track record. However, a considerable and continuing risk of mechanical complications should be taken into account. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Failure rates and functional results for intercalary femur reconstructions after tumour resection.

PURPOSE: To compare the results for patients treated with intercalary endoprosthetic replacement (EPR) or intercalary allograft reconstruction for diaphyseal tumours of the femur in terms of: (1) reconstruction failure rates; (2) cause of failure; (3) risk of amputation of the limb; and (4) functional result. METHODS: Patients with bone sarcomas of the femoral diaphysis, treated with en bloc resection and reconstructed with an intercalary EPR or allograft, were reviewed. A total of 107 patients were included in the study (36 EPR and 71 intercalary allograft reconstruction). No differences were found between the two groups in terms of follow-up, age, gender and the use of adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: The probability of failure for intercalary EPR was 36% at 5 years and 22% for allograft at 5 years (p = 0.26). Mechanical failures were the most prevalent in both types of reconstruction. Aseptic loosening and implant fracture are the main cause in the EPR group. For intercalary allograft reconstructions, fracture followed by nonunion was the most common complication. Ten-year risk of amputation after failure for both reconstructions was 3%. There were no differences between the groups in terms of the mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score (27.4, range 16-30 vs. 27.6, range 17-30). CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated similar failure rates for both reconstructions. In both techniques, mechanical failure was the most common complication with a low rate of limb amputation and good functional results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

In Vitro Comparative Study Between Conventional and Computer-Assisted Surgery Methods for Planning and Resection of Bone Sarcomas.

This poster aims to achieve an "in vitro" comparative study between three methods: 2D digital images planning and execution without navigation (freehand with ruler and caliper), 3D planning and execution without navigation (freehand with ruler and caliper) and 3D planning and execution guided with navigation. 3D planning and navigated procedures potentially improve sarcoma resection.

Structural allograft reconstruction of the foot and ankle after tumor resections.

BACKGROUND: Structural allografts have been used to correct deformities or to fill bone defects secondary to tumor excisions, trauma, osteochondral lesions, or intercalary arthrodesis. However, the quality of published evidence supporting the use of allograft transplantation in foot and ankle surgery has been reported as fair. The purpose of this study was to report the overall survival of structural allograft in the foot and ankle after tumor resection, and the survival according to the type of allograft and the complication rates in the medium to long term. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1989 to June 2011, 44 structural allograft reconstructions of the foot and ankle were performed in 42 patients (28 men and 14 women) due to musculoskeletal tumor resections. Mean age at presentation was 27 years. Mean follow-up was 53 months. Demographic data, diagnosis, site of the neoplasm, operations performed, operative complications, outcomes after surgery, date of last follow-up evaluation, and local recurrences were reviewed for all patients. Regarding the type of 44 allograft reconstructions, 16 were hemicylindrical allografts (HA), 12 intercalary allografts (IA), 10 osteoarticular allografts (OA), and 6 were total calcaneal allograft (CA). RESULTS: The overall allograft survival rate, as calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method, at 5 and 10 years was 79 % (95 % CI 64-93 %). When allocated by type of allograft reconstruction the specific allograft survival at 5 and 10 years was: 83 % for CA, 80 % for HA, 77 % for OA, and 75 % for IA. The complications rate for this series was 36 % including: articular failure, local recurrence, infection, fracture and nonunion. CONCLUSION: This study showed that structural allograft reconstruction in the foot and ankle after tumor resection may be durable with a 79 % survival rate at 5 and 10 years. The two types of allografts that showed better survival rate were hemicylindrical allografts (80 %) and calcaneus allografts (83 %). The highest complication rates occurred after calcaneus allografts and osteoarticular allografts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Oncologic and clinical outcomes in pelvic primary bone sarcomas treated with limb salvage surgery.

PURPOSE: We propose to study a group of patients with primary bone sarcoma of the pelvis treated with limb salvage surgery and analyze overall survival, local recurrence rates and functional outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed, and all patients diagnosed with pelvic primary bone sarcomas between 1990 and 2012 were analyzed. Patients treated with limb salvage surgery and with a minimum of 12-month follow-up for patients alive were included. The overall survival and the local recurrence rate were calculated for the assessment of oncological results. The associations with gender, age, histological grade, type of surgery, margins chemotherapy response and use of navigation were examined. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were included in the study. The mean age was 37 years (range 10-82), and mean follow-up was 44 months (range 8-189). Forty-five (86 %) tumors were histologically classified as high-grade sarcomas, four (8 %) as low-grade sarcomas and three (6 %) as dedifferentiated sarcomas. Cancer-specific overall survival was 37.5 % for 5 years and 31 % for 10 years. Local recurrence rate was 30 %. High-grade tumors and chemotherapy necrosis below 90 % were negative prognosis factor. Postoperative complication rate was 34.5 % (n:18), being deep infection the most prevalent (n:13). Reconstruction of the pelvis after an oncology resection for primary pelvic sarcomas increased the incidence of complication significantly (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Primary bone sarcomas involving the pelvis are suggestive of a high-grade tumor and present poor oncologic outcomes. Pelvic reconstruction after a limb salvage surgery is associated with a high risk of complication. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Case series, Level IV.

[Surgical treatment of locally aggressive and malignant tumors of the proximal third of the fibula. Oncology results and functional evaluation]. / Tratamiento quirúrgico de los tumores malignos y localmente agresivos del tercio proximal del peroné. Resultados oncológicos y evaluación funcional.

INTRODUCTION: Proximal fibula malignant and locally aggressive benign bone tumors are uncommon and usually treat by surgery. Bloc resection of the knee can compromise knee stability due to of the resection of the posterolateral ligament complex. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed 28 consecutive patients treated for a proximal fibula bone tumor between 1980 and 2006 (osteosarcoma: 9, giant cell tumor: 9, Ewing sarcoma: 8 and chondrosarcoma: 2). Sixty-one percent were male and the median age was 21 years (range: 8-60). The mean follow-up was 86 months. The posterolateral complex was reinserted at tibial metaphyseal level. Patients were evaluated functionally using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scale (MSTS). RESULTS: Overall survival rate was 89%, local recurrence rate was 11%, and secondary amputation rate was 6% at 7 years of median follow-up. The average MSTS score was 93%. Five patients had neurological complications. No patient experienced subjective instability or vascular insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Bloc resection of the proximal fibula for the treatment of aggressive or malignant primary bone tumors allowed us to obtain local tumor control, and overall survival rate for sarcomas of 89% at 7 years. The posterolateral ligament complex tibial reinsertion provided functional knee stability without major functional consequences in the medium term.