Do Massive Allograft Reconstructions for Tumors of the Femur and Tibia Survive 10 or More Years after Implantation?

BACKGROUND: Massive bone allografts have been used for limb salvage in patients undergoing bone tumor resections as an alternative to endoprostheses. Although several studies on massive allograft reconstructions for bone tumors reported that most complications occur in the first 3 years after surgery, there are no long-term reports on complications to substantiate this contention. We believe such information is important so that surgeons and patients can make more informed decisions when choosing a reconstructive method after tumor resection. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What is the survival of allografts free from removal, amputation, or joint replacement in patients treated for bone tumors in the lower limb with a minimum of 10 years of followup? (2) What complications occur after 10 or more years of followup? (3) Are there factors associated with allograft survival, such as age, sex, the affected bone, reconstruction type (intercalary or osteoarticular allograft), tumor type (malignant or benign), failure type, and chemotherapy use? METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 398 patients treated in one center with benign or malignant bone tumors in the femur or tibia between 1986 and 2007. During the period in question, our general indications for using allografts (354 patients) included patients with benign or low-grade sarcomas and patients with high-grade sarcomas with clinical and imaging response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Other approaches such as endoprostheses (44 patients) were indicated if the patient received radiotherapy, in patients with high-grade sarcomas without clinical and imaging response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or with neurovascular tumor involvement. We excluded from the analysis 53 patients treated with allograft-prosthetic composites, 46 with hemicondylar osteoarticular allografts, and 57 with intercalary hemicylindrical allografts. The study was thus performed in 198 patients treated with segmental massive allografts in the long bones of the lower extremity (132 femurs and 66 tibias) after resection of a primary bone tumor, including 120 patients treated with osteoarticular and 78 with segmental intercalary allografts. A total of 32 (16%) of the 198 patients died before 10 years, and graft status was known in all of those patients; these patients were included (mean followup, 192 months; range, 1-370 months). All remaining 166 patients who were not known to have died before 10 years were accounted for at least 10 years after the allograft procedure (mean, 222 months; range, 120-370 months). No patient was lost to followup. The mean age was 22 years (range, 2-55 years); 105 patients were male (53%) and 93 were female. The predominant diagnoses were osteosarcoma (n = 125, 63%), giant cell tumor of bone (n = 27, 14%), and Ewing's sarcoma (n = 19, 10%). In all, 146 patients (74%) underwent chemotherapy. Selected variables were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify risk factors of allograft removal, joint replacement, or amputation. We performed competitive risk analysis with allograft removal, joint replacement, or amputation as the endpoint at 5, 10, and 20 years. Patient function was evaluated using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS)-93 scoring system. RESULTS: The risk of allograft removal, joint replacement, or amputation was 36% at 5 years (95% CI, 30-43), 40% at 10 years (95% CI, 33-47), and 44% at 20 years (95% CI, 37-51). Fractures occurred in 15% (29 patients), infection in 14% (27 patients), nonunion in 12% (23 patients) and tumor recurrence in 7% (13 patients). Thirty-two patients died of disease before 10 years; nine of these patients had a second surgery before death, eight had an amputation, and one underwent graft removal. Of the 166 patients who were still alive 10 years after the allograft procedure, 36 underwent allograft removal, six patients underwent joint replacement, and four had an amputation; however, after 10 years, six more allografts were removed (four due to fractures, one due to infection, and one due to instability), and another patient was amputated due to a second malignancy. After controlling for potentially confounding variables including death, we found that the risk of allograft removal, joint replacement, or amputation in osteoarticular tibial grafts (58% [95% CI, 43-73] at 5, 10, and 20 years) was higher than that of osteoarticular femur allografts (29% [95% CI, 18-39] at 5 years, 30% [95% CI, 19-40] at 10 years, 37% [95% CI, 25-48] at 20 years; p = 0.010) and tibia intercalary allografts (26% [95% CI, 7-45] at 5, 10 and 20 years; p = 0.020). Fractures occurred more frequently in the femur (18% [95% CI, 11-25]) than in the tibia (5% [95% CI, 0-10]; p < 0.010), and infections occurred more frequently in the tibia (24% [95% CI, 14-35]) than in the femur (4% [95% CI, 0-8]; p < 0.001). With the number of patients we had, we found no difference in the proportion of local recurrence in the tibia (12% [95% CI, 4-20]) compared with the femur (5% [95% CI, 1-9]; p < 0.053). CONCLUSIONS: Infections were the most common complications associated with allograft removal in the first 2 to 3 years after reconstruction and were more frequently associated with tibial allograft removal. Fractures were more commonly associated with graft removal with longer term followup and were more frequently associated with femoral allograft removal. Although we cannot directly compare our results with other types of reconstructions, we believe that allografts still have a role in the reconstruction of patients with a benign or low-grade bone tumor. Future studies in femoral allograft with longer followup should be performed to analyze factors that may explain why some grafts fail, such as the percent of the length of the bone resected, type and number of plates and screws used and type of fixation (rods versus plates). There was a higher incidence of graft removal in patients with proximal tibia osteoarticular allografts, which has led us to use this type of reconstruction only in pediatric patients over the last 15 years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Does Osteoarticular Allograft Reconstruction Achieve Long-term Survivorship after En Bloc Resection of Grade 3 Giant Cell Tumor of Bone?

BACKGROUND: En bloc resection of benign tumors is only indicated in aggressive lesions with substantial destruction of the affected bone. Few reports have evaluated the long-term outcome of Grade 3 giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB; defined as severe bone destruction and soft tissue extension) treated with en bloc resection and reconstruction with a massive allograft. We recently reported that patients with benign tumors achieved better allograft reconstruction survivorship compared with those treated for a malignant bone tumor. In light of that finding, we wondered whether osteoarticular allografts would be a viable long-term alternative for Grade 3 GCTB, which could be important in some countries because of greater availability and lower costs compared with endoprostheses. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We analyzed a group of patients with Grade 3 GCTBs treated with en bloc resection and osteoarticular allograft reconstruction in terms of (1) survivorship free from allograft removal at 10 years; (2) survivorship free from reoperation for any reason at 10 years, (3) functional results as measured by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score, (4) assessment of arthrosis at the knee. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all patients with a Grade 3 GCTB treated between 1980 and 2007. Only patients treated with en bloc resection and reconstruction with massive osteoarticular allografts were included in the analysis. The indication for osteoarticular reconstruction during that time included severe bone destruction with intraarticular compromise of the tumor, intraarticular fracture because of tumor growth, the presence of inadequate remaining subchondral bone to resist normal loading (for the distal femur or proximal tibia), and the preservation of a soft-tissue component (ligaments or meniscus) for articular stability. During the period, 75 patients were treated with en bloc resection. Patients treated with intralesional curettage (n = 7), reconstruction with an endoprosthesis (n = 2), intercalary arthrodesis (n = 13), or unicondylar reconstruction (n = 14) were excluded. Of the original 75 treated with en bloc resection, 52% (39) were treated with osteoarticular allograft reconstruction, and no patient was lost to follow-up before 2 years or had substantial missing data. However, of the 39 patients, another 21% (8) have not been seen in the last 5 years, but these were included here because they reached the 10-year minimum surveillance period before being lost. Twenty-three of those 39 patients were previously reported by our group and 16 new patients (treated between 1980-1985) were included in this series (eight distal radius, six distal femur, two proximal tibias), extending the follow-up period and including more patients for analysis. The median (range) follow-up duration was 26 years (10 to 34). We assessed survivorship using a Kaplan-Meier analysis, we drew MSTS scores retrospectively from patients´ medical records, and we graded arthrosis using the Ahlbäck scale for the knee (which was by far the most common joint involved, n = 31, and so it was the joint we assessed for the presence of arthrosis). RESULTS: The survivorship free from allograft removal was 85% at 10 years (95% CI 74 to 96). The allograft survivorship free from reoperation for any reason at 10 years was 72% (95% CI 59 to 87). The median (range) MSTS score was 28 points (19 to 30). The grade of arthrosis in the knee at last follow-up was analyzed in 20 patients and classified in nine as Ahlbäck Type 4, in six as Type 3, in three as Type 2 and in two as Type 5. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoarticular allograft reconstruction after a Grade 3 GCTB en bloc resection showed excellent long-term survivorship. We believe these results compare favorably with other studies on endoprosthetic reconstruction and head-to-head studies of these approaches should be performed; these would need to be multicenter trials. In the meantime, in locations where endoprostheses are unavailable or too expensive, we believe our results support the use of osteoarticular allografts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.

What Are the Complications of Allograft Reconstructions for Sarcoma Resection in Children Younger Than 10 Years at Long-term Followup?

BACKGROUND: Preservation of limb function after resection of malignant bone tumors in skeletally immature children is challenging. Resection of bone sarcomas and reconstruction with an allograft in patients younger than 10 years old is one reconstructive alternative. However, long-term studies analyzing late complications and limb length discrepancy at skeletal maturity are scarce; this information would be important, because growth potential is altered in these patients owing to the loss of one physis during tumor resection. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: At a minimum followup of 10 years after reconstructions in children younger than 10 years of age at the time of reconstruction, we asked what is (1) the limb length discrepancy at skeletal maturity and how was it managed; (2) the risk of amputation; (3) the risk of allograft removal; and (4) the risk of second surgery resulting from complications? METHODS: Between 1994 and 2006, we performed 22 bone allografts after bone sarcoma resections in children younger than 10 years of age. Of those, none were lost to followup before the minimum followup of 10 years was reached, and an additional six had died of disease (of whom three died since our last report on this group of patients), leaving 16 patients whom we studied here. Followup on these patients was at a mean of 13.5 years (range, 10-22 years). During the period in question, no other treatments (such as extendible prostheses, amputations, etc) were used. The mean age at the time of the original surgery was 7 years (range, 2-10 years), and the mean age of the 16 alive patients at last followup was 20 years (range, 15-28 years). This series included 10 boys and six girls with 14 osteosarcomas and two Ewing sarcomas. Ten reconstructions were performed with an intercalary allograft and six with an osteoarticular allograft. The growth plate was uninvolved in three patients, whereas in the remaining 13, the growth plate was included in the resection (seven intercalary and six osteoarticular allografts). Limb length discrepancy at skeletal maturity was measured with full-length standing radiographs, and data were collected by retrospective study of a longitudinally maintained institutional database. The risk of amputation, allograft removal, and secondary surgery resulting from a complication was calculated by a competing-risk analysis method. RESULTS: We observed no limb length discrepancy at skeletal maturity in the three patients with intercalary resections in whom we preserved the physes on both sides of the joint (two femurs and one tibia); however, one patient developed malalignment that was treated with corrective osteotomy of the tibia. The remaining 13 patients developed limb length discrepancy as a result of loss of one physis. Seven patients (four femurs, two tibias, and one humerus) developed shortening of ≤ 3 cm (mean, 2.4 cm; range, 1-3 cm) and no lengthening was performed. Six patients developed > 3 cm of limb discrepancy at skeletal maturity (all distal femoral reconstructions). In four patients this was treated with femoral lengthening, whereas two declined this procedure (each with 6 cm of shortening). In the four patients who had a lengthening procedure, one patient had a final discrepancy of 4 cm, whereas the other three had equal limb lengths at followup. The risk of amputation was 4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0-15) and none occurred since our previous report. The risk of allograft removal was 15% (95% CI, 1-29) and none occurred since our previous report on this group of patients. The risk of other operations resulting from a complication was 38% (95% CI, 19-57). Eleven patients underwent a second operation resulting from a complication (three local recurrences, five fractures, one infection, one nonunion, and one tibial deformity), of which three were performed since our last report on this group of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Limb length inequalities and subsequent procedures to correct them were common in this small series of very young patients as were complications resulting in operative procedures, but overall most allografts remained in place at long-term followup. In skeletally immature children, bone allograft is one alternative among several that are available (such as rotationplasty and endoprosthesis), and future studies with long followup may be able to compare the available options with one another. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.

Is Navigation-guided En Bloc Resection Advantageous Compared With Intralesional Curettage for Locally Aggressive Bone Tumors?

BACKGROUND: The treatment of locally aggressive bone tumors is a balance between achieving local tumor control and surgical morbidity. Wide resection decreases the likelihood of local recurrence, although wide resection may result in more complications than would happen after curettage. Navigation-assisted surgery may allow more precise resection, perhaps making it possible to expand the procedure's indications and decrease the likelihood of recurrence; however, to our knowledge, comparative studies have not been performed. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The purpose of this study was to compare curettage plus phenol as a local adjuvant with navigation-guided en bloc resection in terms of (1) local recurrence; (2) nononcologic complications; and (3) function as measured by revised Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scores. METHODS: Patients with a metaphyseal and/or epiphyseal locally aggressive primary bone tumor treated by curettage and adjuvant therapy or en bloc resection assisted by navigation between 2010 and 2014 were considered for this retrospective study. Patients with a histologic diagnosis of a primary aggressive benign bone tumor or low-grade chondrosarcoma were included. During this time period, we treated 45 patients with curettage of whom 43 (95%) were available for followup at a minimum of 24 months (mean, 37 months; range, 24-61 months), and we treated 26 patients with navigation-guided en bloc resection, of whom all (100%) were available for study. During this period, we generally performed curettage with phenol when the lesion was in contact with subchondral bone. We treated tumors that were at least 5 mm from the subchondral bone, such that en bloc resection was considered possible with computer-assisted block resection. There were no differences in terms of age, gender, tumor type, or tumor location between the groups. Outcomes, including allograft healing, nonunion, tumor recurrence, fracture, hardware failure, infection, and revised MSTS score, were recorded. Bone consolidation was defined as complete periosteal and endosteal bridging visible between the allograft-host junctions in at least two different radiographic views and the absence of pain and instability in the union site. All study data were obtained from our longitudinally maintained oncology database. RESULTS: In the curettage group, two patients developed a local recurrence, and no local recurrences were recorded in patients treated with en bloc resection. All patients who underwent navigation-guided resection achieved tumor-free margins. Intraoperative navigation was performed successfully in all patients and there were no failures in registration. Postoperative complications did not differ between the groups: in patients undergoing curettage, 7% (three of 43) and in patients undergoing navigation, 4% (one of 26) had a complication. There was no difference in functional scores: mean MSTS score for patients undergoing curettage was 28 points (range, 27-30 points) and for patients undergoing navigation, 29 (range, 27-30 points; p = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: In this small comparative series, navigation-assisted resection techniques allowed conservative en bloc resection of locally aggressive primary bone tumors with no local recurrence. Nevertheless, with the numbers available, we saw no difference between the groups in terms of local recurrence risk, complications, or function. Until or unless studies demonstrate an advantage to navigation-guided en bloc resection, we cannot recommend wide use of this novel technique because it adds surgical time and expense. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Outcome of Pelvic Bone Sarcomas in Children.

BACKGROUND: Malignant bone tumors of the pelvis in children are rare and knowledge of their behavior is limited. METHODS: A total of 113 skeletally immature patients under 16 years of age, comprising 58 females and 55 males were treated between 1983 and 2014. Tumors comprised Ewing's sarcoma (ES) in 88 (77.9%) or osteosarcoma (OS) in 25 (22.1%). Metastases at diagnosis were present in 36 (31.9%). The mean follow-up was 5.2 years (2 to 16). RESULTS: For patients with ES, the overall survival was 37.1% at 5-years and 33.5% at 10-years and 31.7% at 5- and 10-years in patients with OS. Local recurrence occurred in 24 patients with ES (27.3%) and 7 patients with OS (43.7%). Chemotherapy response was a predictor of local recurrence in ES with the lowest incidence seen in those with a good response to chemotherapy treated with a combination of radiotherapy and surgery. In patients with OS, both surgical margin and chemotherapy response influenced local control. CONCLUSIONS: Attaining a wide surgical margin should be the aim of treatment for all children with primary bone tumors of the pelvis. In ES, chemotherapy response has a greater influence on disease free and overall survival. Patients who demonstrate a poor response to chemotherapy should be considered for subsequent radiotherapy. Effort should be directed toward identifying nonhistologic methods of assessing chemotherapy response. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-retrospective case study.

What Is the Expected Learning Curve in Computer-assisted Navigation for Bone Tumor Resection?

BACKGROUND: Computer navigation during surgery can help oncologic surgeons perform more accurate resections. However, some navigation studies suggest that this tool may result in unique intraoperative problems and increased surgical time. The degree to which these problems might diminish with experience-the learning curve-has not, to our knowledge, been evaluated for navigation-assisted tumor resections. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What intraoperative technical problems were observed during the first 2 years using navigation? (2) What was the mean time for navigation procedures and the time improvement during the learning curve? (3) Have there been any differences in the accuracy of the registration technique that occurred over time? (4) Did navigation achieve the goal of achieving a wide bone margin? METHODS: All patients who underwent preoperative virtual planning for tumor bone resections and operated on with navigation assistance from 2010 to 2012 were prospectively collected. Two surgeons (GLF, LAA-T) performed the intraoperative navigation assistance. Both surgeons had more than 5 years of experience in orthopaedic oncology with more than 60 oncology cases per year per surgeon. This study includes from the very first patients performed with navigation. Although they did not take any formal training in orthopaedic oncology navigation, both surgeons were trained in navigation for knee prostheses. Between 2010 and 2012, we performed 124 bone tumor resections; of these, 78 (63%) cases were resected using intraoperative navigation assistance. During this period, our general indications for use of navigation included pelvic and sacral tumors and those tumors that were reconstructed with massive bone allografts to obtain precise matching of the host and allograft osteotomies. Seventy-eight patients treated with this technology were included in the study. Technical problems (crashes) and time for the navigation procedure were reported after surgery. Accuracy of the registration technique was defined and the surgical margins of the removed specimen were determined by an experienced bone pathologist after the surgical procedure as intralesional, marginal, or wide margins. To obtain these data, we performed a chart review and review of operative notes. RESULTS: In four patients (of 78 [5%]), the navigation was not completed as a result of technical problems; all occurred during the first 20 cases of the utilization of this technology. The mean time for navigation procedures during the operation was 31 minutes (range, 11-61 minutes), and the early navigations took more time (the regression analysis shielded R2 = 0.35 with p < 0.001). The median registration error was 0.6 mm (range, 0.3-1.1 mm). Registration did not improve over time (the regression analysis slope estimate is -0.014, with R2 = 0.026 and p = 0.15). Histological examinations of all specimens showed a wide bone tumor margin in all patients. However, soft tissue margins were wide in 58 cases and marginal in 20. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that navigation may be useful in achieving negative bony margins, but we cannot state that it is more effective than other means for achieving this goal. Technical difficulty precluded the use of navigation in 5% of cases in this series. Navigation time decreased with more experience in the procedure but with the numbers available, we did not improve the registration error over time. Given these observations and the increased time and expense of using navigation, larger studies are needed to substantiate the value of this technology for routine use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.

Proximal Tibia Reconstruction After Bone Tumor Resection: Are Survivorship and Outcomes of Endoprosthetic Replacement and Osteoarticular Allograft Similar?

BACKGROUND: The proximal tibia is one of the most challenging anatomic sites for extremity reconstructions after bone tumor resection. Because bone tumors are rare and large case series of reconstructions of the proximal tibia are lacking, we undertook this study to compare two major reconstructive approaches at two large sarcoma centers. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The purpose of this study was to compare groups of patients treated with endoprosthetic replacement or osteoarticular allograft reconstruction for proximal tibia bone tumors in terms of (1) limb salvage reconstruction failures and risk of amputation of the limb; (2) causes of failure; and (3) functional results. METHODS: Between 1990 and 2012, two oncologic centers treated 385 patients with proximal tibial resections and reconstruction. During that time, the general indications for those types of reconstruction were proximal tibia malignant tumors or bone destruction with articular surface damage or collapse. Patients who matched the inclusion criteria (age between 15 and 60 years old, diagnosis of a primary bone tumor of the proximal tibia treated with limb salvage surgery and reconstructed with endoprosthetic replacement or osteoarticular allograft) were included for analysis (n = 149). In those groups (endoprosthetic or allograft), of the patients not known to have reached an endpoint (death, reconstructive failure, or limb loss) before 2 years, 85% (88 of 104) and 100% (45 of 45) were available for followup at a minimum of 2 years. A total of 88 patients were included in the endoprosthetic group and 45 patients in the osteoarticular allograft group. Followup was at a mean of 9.5 (SD 6.72) years (range, 2-24 years) for patients with endoprosthetic reconstructions, and 7.4 (SD 5.94) years for patients treated with allografts (range, 2-21 years). The following variables were compared: limb salvage reconstruction failure rates, risk of limb amputation, type of failures according to the Henderson et al. classification, and functional results assessed by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society system. RESULTS: With the numbers available, after competitive risk analysis, the probability of failure for endoprosthetic replacement of the proximal tibia was 18% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.75-27.46) at 5 years and 44% (95% CI, 31.67-55.62) at 10 years and for osteoarticular allograft reconstruction was 27% (95% CI, 14.73-40.16) at 5 years and 32% (95% CI, 18.65-46.18) at 10 years. There were no differences in terms of risk of failures at 5 years (p = 0.26) or 10 years (p = 0.20) between the two groups. Fifty-one of 88 patients (58%) with proximal tibia endoprostheses developed a reconstruction failure with mechanical causes being the most prevalent (32 of 51 patients [63%]). A total of 19 of 45 osteoarticular allograft reconstructions failed (42%) and nine of 19 (47%) of them were caused by early infection. Ten-year risk of amputation after failure for endoprosthetic reconstruction was 10% (95% CI, 5.13-18.12) and 11% (95% CI, 4.01-22.28) for osteoarticular allograft with no difference between the groups (p = 0.91). With the numbers available, there were no differences between the groups in terms of the mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score (26.58, SD 2.99, range, 19-30 versus 27.52, SD 1.91, range, 22-30; p = 0.13; 95% CI, -2,3 to 0.32). Mean extension lag was more severe in the endoprosthetic group than the osteoarticular allograft group: 13.56° (SD 18.73; range, 0°-80°) versus 2.41° (SD 5.76; range, 0°-30°; p < 0.001; 95% CI, 5.8-16.4). CONCLUSIONS: Reconstruction of the proximal tibia with either endoprosthetic replacement or osteoarticular allograft appears to offer similar reconstruction failures rates. The primary cause of failure for allograft was infection and for endoprosthesis was mechanical complications. We believe that the treating surgeon should have both options available for treatment of patients with malignant or aggressive tumors of the proximal tibia. (S)he might consider an allograft in a younger patient to achieve better extensor mechanism function, whereas in an older patient or one with a poorer prognosis where return to function and ambulation quickly is desired, an endoprosthesis may be advantageous. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Does intraoperative navigation assistance improve bone tumor resection and allograft reconstruction results?

BACKGROUND: Bone tumor resections for limb salvage have become standard treatment. Recently, computer-assisted navigation has been introduced to improve the accuracy of joint arthroplasty and possible tumor resection surgery; however, like with any new technology, its benefits and limitations need to be characterized for surgeons to make informed decisions about whether to use it. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We wanted to (1) assess the technical problems associated with computer-assisted navigation; (2) assess the accuracy of the registration technique; (3) define the time required to perform a navigated resection in orthopedic oncology; and (4) the frequency of complications such as local recurrence, infection, nonunion, fracture, and articular collapse after tumor resection and bone reconstruction with allografts using intraoperative navigation assistance. METHODS: We analyzed 69 consecutive patients with bone tumors of the extremities that were reconstructed with massive bone allografts using intraoperative navigation assistance with a minimum followup of 12 months (mean, 29 months; range, 12-43 months). All patients had their tumors reconstructed in three-dimensional format in a virtual platform and planning was performed to determine the osteotomy position according to oncology margins in a CT-MRI image fusion. Tumor resections and allograft reconstructions were performed using a computer navigation system according to the previously planned cuts. We analyzed intraoperative data such as technical problems related to the navigation procedure, registration technique error, length of time for the navigation procedure, and postoperative complications such as local recurrence, infection, nonunion, fracture, and articular collapse. RESULTS: In three patients (4%), the navigation was not carried out as a result of technical problems. Of the 66 cases in which navigation was performed, the mean registration error was 0.65 mm (range, 0.3-1.2 mm). The mean required time for navigation procedures, including bone resection and allograft reconstruction during surgery, was 35 minutes (range, 18-65 minutes). Complications that required a second surgical procedure were recorded for nine patients including one local recurrence, one infection, two fractures, one articular collapse, and four nonunions. In two of these nine patients, the allograft needed to be removed. At latest followup, three patients died of their original disease. CONCLUSIONS: The navigation procedure could not be performed for technical reasons in 4% of the series. The mean registration error was 0.65 mm in this series and the navigation procedure itself adds a mean of 35 minutes during surgery. The complications rate for this series was 14%. We found a nonunion rate of 6% in allograft reconstructions when we used a navigation system for the cuts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Management and prognostic significance of pathological fractures through chondrosarcoma of the femur.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to report overall survival, local recurrence and development of metastasis in a group of patients with femur chondrosarcoma that presented with or without a pathological fracture. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed, and 182 patients (39 pathological fractures) that had been treated by oncologic surgery for femoral chondrosarcoma were included. The mean age of the series was 50 years (range, eight to 90) and 114 patients were male (63%). Mean follow-up was 113 months (range, three to 216). Cancer-specific overall survival, development of metastasis and local recurrence were analysed, grouping patients by grade (grade I / grade 2-3 / dedifferentiated). RESULTS: Disease-specific survival in the entire group of chondrosarcoma of the femur was 69% (CI95% 63-76) at 5 years. Five-year disease-specific survival in the fracture group was 49% lower than in the control group 75% (p = 0.0001). Survival of patients with grade 1 chondrosarcoma with fracture was significantly less than those without fracture (p = 0.02) but there was no difference in those with grade 2-3 (p = 0.49) and dedifferentiated tumours (p = 0.09). The local recurrence rate of the entire series was 27%. Only dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas with an associated pathological fracture had a significantly higher rate of local recurrence. There was no relationship between development of metastases and fracture. CONCLUSION: A pathological fracture of the femur has a negative prognostic influence in grade 1 chondrosarcoma and increases the risk of local recurrence in dedifferentiated femur chondrosarcomas.

[Low grade parosteal osteosarcoma. Clinical and oncological outcomes]. / Osteosarcoma parostal de bajo grado. Evolución oncológica y clínica.

The objective of the study was to analyze a group of patients with low grade parosteal osteosarcoma treated with limb salvage surgery and reconstructed with bone allograft. A retrospective review from our oncologic data base between 1980 and 2010 was done and all patients with diagnosis of low grade parosteal osteosarcoma, treated with limb salvage surgery and reconstructed with allograft were included. Twenty-two patients were included for the analysis. The mean age was 32±11 years (10-59) y the mean follow-up 93±69 months (8-237). Ten year overall survival of the series was 91% (95% CI: 79-100). Four patients developed local recurrence, 2 of them histological classified after the resection dedifferentiated parosteal osteosarcoma. Two patients developed distant recurrence, being the lung the only site of metastasis. Ten year limb salvage reconstruction survival was 65% (95% CI: 44-86). Long term survival rate in low grade parosteal osteosarcoma is over 90%. Surgical resection wide margin should be the elective treatment and biological limb salvage reconstruction is a good alternative.

[Osteosarcoma lung metastases. Survival after chemotherapy and surgery]. / Metástasis pulmonares en osteosarcoma. Neoadyuvancia, tratamiento quirúrgico y supervivencia.

Five years overall survival in osteosarcoma patients is around 70%, although in patients with metastatic disease it is only 10-30%. The objective of this study was to analyze overall survival and prognostic factors in a group of patients with metastatic osteosarcoma treated with surgical removal of the lung metastases. A retrospective review from our oncology data base revealed 38 patients treated between 1992 and 2006. The mean age at diagnosis was 18 ± 9.4 years (3-45) and mean follow-up was 57 ± 53.8 months (12-231). All patients were treated with chemotherapy and oncologic resection of the primary tumor and surgical removal of the lung metastases. We analyzed overall survival and prognostic factors: age, gender, site, time of metastasis, local recurrences, number of lung metastasis and chemotherapy response (necrosis). Overall survival of the entire series was 29% at 5 years (CI 95%: 14.5-43.5) and 26% at 10 years (CI 95%: 12-40). Significant difference in 5 year overall survival was found between good and bad responders to chemotherapy, 53% (IC 95%: 28-78) vs. 8% (IC 95%: 0-20) (p = 0.0008). No statistically significant relationship between other prognostic factors analyzed was observed. Five and ten years overall survival rates in osteosarcoma patients with lung metastasis treated with chemotherapy and surgically resection is poor. Patients with good response to chemotherapy have better prognosis.

Controversies in orthopaedic oncology.

Chondrosarcoma is the second most common surgically treated primary bone sarcoma. Despite a large number of scientific papers in the literature, there is still significant controversy about diagnostics, treatment of the primary tumour, subtypes, and complications. Therefore, consensus on its day-to-day treatment decisions is needed. In January 2024, the Birmingham Orthopaedic Oncology Meeting (BOOM) attempted to gain global consensus from 300 delegates from over 50 countries. The meeting focused on these critical areas and aimed to generate consensus statements based on evidence amalgamation and expert opinion from diverse geographical regions. In parallel, periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in oncological reconstructions poses unique challenges due to factors such as adjuvant treatments, large exposures, and the complexity of surgery. The meeting debated two-stage revisions, antibiotic prophylaxis, managing acute PJI in patients undergoing chemotherapy, and defining the best strategies for wound management and allograft reconstruction. The objectives of the meeting extended beyond resolving immediate controversies. It sought to foster global collaboration among specialists attending the meeting, and to encourage future research projects to address unsolved dilemmas. By highlighting areas of disagreement and promoting collaborative research endeavours, this initiative aims to enhance treatment standards and potentially improve outcomes for patients globally. This paper sets out some of the controversies and questions that were debated in the meeting.

Hoffa's fat pad tumours: what do we know about them?

PURPOSE: We report on a group of patients with tumours in the Hoffa's fat pad (HFP), their clinical presentation, histological type and treatment, including two synovial sarcomas with their clinical follow-up, which have not been described previously in the literature. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of our prospectively collected database of 25 cases of HFP tumours with at least six months follow-up. RESULTS: The gender, age at presentation (over and under 16 years of age), clinical features, history of trauma, treatment chosen, and complications were recorded. The mean age of the patients was 32 years (three to 47). Six patients were under 16 years old. Pain was the most common symptom, present in 92% (n = 23/25). The final diagnoses included 23 (92%) benign tumours and two (8%) malignant tumours. The most common benign tumour was pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) (48% n = 12). The two malignant tumours were synovial sarcomas and both presented in patients under 16 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Hoffa's fat pad tumours are an uncommon and rarely diagnosed group of lesions that can be misinterpreted as any knee pathology. Although the majority of HFP tumours are benign, malignant tumours should be considered in the differential diagnosis for the paediatric population.

[Oncological outcomes and prognostic factors in surgically treated patients with synovial sarcoma]. / Resultados oncológicos y factores pronósticos en pacientes con sarcoma sinovial tratados quirúrgicamente.

INTRODUCTION: Synovial sarcoma is an unusual tumor with an incidence of 1-3 cases per million. It is more frequent in teenagers and young adults under 30. It develops anywhere, but the extremities are the most frequent place of appearance (80% extremities, 20% other locations: 8% trunk, 7% retroperitoneal/abdominal, 5% head and neck). Oncological results are different depending on the study. Survival rate free of local recurrence, survival rate free of events and global survival rate vary upon published studies. The same happens with the disease's prognostic factors. METHODS: The objective was to analyze a group of 43 patients with diagnosis of synovial sarcoma of the extremities treated surgically and determine (1) global survival rate, (2) survival rate free of events, (3) local recurrence rate and (4) oncological risk factors. RESULTS: The global survival rate at 2 years was 90% (IC95%: 76 - 96%) and 67% (IC95%: 49-80%) at 5 years. The survival rate free of events at 2 years was 68% (IC95% 51-80%) and 48% (IC95% 32-52%) at 5 years. The recurrence rate at 2 years was 9% (IC95% 3-25%) and 25% (IC95% 13-46%) at 5 years. The histological grade and metastatic presence were bad prognostic factors. DISCUSSION: We can conclude that our oncological results are in line with those published in previous series and that there were two factors associated with poor prognosis.

Introducción: El sarcoma sinovial es un tumor raro (incidencia de 1-3 casos por millón). Es más frecuente en adolescentes y adultos menores de 30 años. Se desarrolla en cualquier parte del cuerpo, siendo, las extremidades el lugar más frecuente de aparición (80% extremidades y 20% otras localizaciones: 8% tronco, retroperitoneal/ abdominal 7%, cabeza y cuello 5%). Los resultados oncológicos de los pacientes con sarcoma sinovial son disímiles. La tasa de supervivencia libre de recurrencia local, la supervivencia libre de eventos y la supervivencia global varían entre las series publicadas. Lo mismo sucede con los factores pronósticos de la enfermedad. Métodos: El objetivo fue analizar un grupo de 43 pacientes con diagnóstico de sarcoma sinovial de las extremidades tratados quirúrgicamente, y determinar (1) tasa de supervivencia global, (2) tasa de supervivencia libre de eventos, (3) tasa de recurrencia local y (4) factores de riesgo oncológicos. Resultados: La supervivencia global a los 2 años fue 90% (IC95%: 76-96%), y 67% (IC95%: 49-80%) a los 5 años. La supervivencia libre de eventos a los 2 años fue 68% (IC95% 51-80%) y a los 5 años 48% (IC95% 32-52%). El riesgo de recurrencia local a 2 años fue 9% (IC95% 3-25%) y a los 5 años 25% (IC95% 13-46%). Los factores de mal pronóstico oncológico fueron el grado histológico y la presencia de metástasis. Discusión: Podemos concluir que nuestros resultados oncológicos se asemejan a las series publicadas y que en nuestra serie hubo dos factores de mal pronóstico.

Chondrosarcoma of the Proximal Humerus: Does the Margin Affect Survival?

Chondrosarcoma (CS) is the second most common primary malignant bone tumour and, in the absence of reliable chemotherapy and radiotherapy, is effectively a surgical disease. Overall disease specific survival (DSS) is affected by tumour grade, whilst resection margin contributes to local recurrence free survival (LRFS). The aim of this study was to investigate factors that affect the local and systemic prognoses for conventional central CSs arising from the proximal humerus. A multi-centre, retrospective study from three international collaborative sarcoma centres identified 110 patients between 1995 and 2020 undergoing treatment for a conventional central CS of the proximal humerus; 58 patients (53%) had a grade 1 tumour, 36 (33%) had a grade 2 tumour, and 16 patients (13%) had a grade 3 CS. The mean age of patients was 50 years (range 10-85). The incidence of local recurrence (LR) was 9/110 (8.2%), and the disease specific mortality was 6/110 (5.5%). The grade was a statistically significant factor for LRFS (p < 0.001). None of the grade 1 tumours developed LR. The DSS was affected by the grade (p < 0.001) but not by the LR (p = 0.4). Only one patient with a grade 2 tumour died from the disease. The proximal humeral grade 1 CS behaved as a benign tumour, having no cases of LR nor death due to disease. Grade 2 CSs of the proximal humerus behaved in a more indolent way when compared with comparable grade tumours elsewhere in the appendicular skeleton, being locally aggressive with a higher LR rate than grade 1 CSs but still having very low mortality and a high rate of DSS. The LR in grade 2 CSs did not affect the DSS; therefore, surgical management in proximal humeral grade 2 CSs should have a greater emphasis on preserving function whilst maintaining an adequate margin for resection. The proximal humeral grade 3 CS was, as elsewhere in the skeleton, an aggressive, high-grade tumour. Therefore, surgical management should include en bloc resection with clear margins to avoid LR.

[Chondrosarcoma of bone in young patients]. / Comportamiento del condrosarcoma óseo en pacientes menores de 40 años.

Chondrosarcoma is the second most frequent primary malignant bone tumor. It is typically described in adults between 40 and 70 years of age, being the majority of the series published in this age group. The objective of this study was to report a series of young adults (16-40 years old) with a diagnosis of chondrosarcoma of bone in order to describe the particularities of this tumor in this population. From a total of 37 patients between 16 and 40 years old, surgically treated for chondrosarcoma in our institution, 18 had low-grade tumors (G1/atypical cartilaginous tumor), 16 had an intermediate-grade (G2), and a minority had high-grade tumors (2 with a G3 and 1 with a dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma). The overall survival rate was 97% (95% CI 82%-99%) at 2 years of follow-up and 90.5% (95% CI 73-96) at 5 years of follow-up. The local recurrence free rate was 92% (95% CI % 77%-97.5%) at 1 year of follow-up and 89% at 2 and 5 years of follow-up (95% CI 73%-96%). Histological grade was the most relevant prognostic factor. The concordance of the histological grade between the preoperative diagnosis of the biopsy and the surgical resection material was 81% (30/37).

El condrosarcoma ocupa el segundo lugar en frecuencia, entre los tumores malignos primarios óseos, en pacientes adultos. Típicamente afecta a adultos de entre 40 y 70 años, siendo la mayoría de las series publicadas de este grupo etario. El objetivo de este estudio fue comunicar una serie de pacientes adultos jóvenes (16 a 40 años) con diagnóstico de condrosarcoma óseo, que buscó describir las particularidades en la forma de presentación en esta población. De un total de 37 pacientes de 16 a 40 años operados por condrosarcoma en nuestro centro, entre los años 2008 y 2019, 18 presentaron tumores de bajo grado (G1/tumor cartilaginoso atípico), 16 de grado intermedio (G2), quedando una minoría con tumores de alto grado (2 con condrosarcoma G3 y 1 con un condrosarcoma desdiferenciado). La tasa de supervivencia global fue del 97% (IC 95% 82%-99%) a 2 años y 90.5% (IC 95% 73%-96%) a 5 años y la tasa libre de recurrencia local fue de 92% (IC 95% 77%-97.5%) a los 12 meses y de 89% a los 2 y 5 años (IC 95% 73%-96%). El grado histológico fue el factor pronóstico más relevante. La concordancia del grado histológico entre el diagnóstico preoperatorio de la biopsia y el material de resección quirúrgica fue del 81% (30/37).

[Women's role in Orthopedic Training programs: What Proportion Do They Represent Today?] / Las mujeres y la residencia de ortopedia y traumatología en Argentina: ¿Qué proporción representan hoy?

Introduction: The objective of the study was to analyze all orthopedics residency programs of Argentina and determine:1)The proportion of females; 2) Social and demographics differences between genders: 3) The factors that influence positively or negatively in female decision to choose orthopedics. Method: An observational and descriptive study was carried out in two phases. First phase: analyze the database of the "Argentine Orthopedic Association during the period 2016-2017. Second phase: a survey was developed and sent to all the orthopedic residents focus on demographics, social and job preferences questions. Results and conclusion: A total of 933 residents were included for analysis. 121 (13%) were female and 812 (87%) were male. We got back 259 survey responses. We found statistically significant differences in terms of marriage or in union: female (16%) vs male (42 %) (p< 0.001); paternity (23.3%) vs maternity (4.5%) (p< 0.001). We observed that female mainly prefer pediatrics, foot and ankle and hand, while the primary choice of men is arthroplasty and arthroscopy. Focus on women analysis, the three main reasons that led them to choose the orthopedics residency program were: avidity for manual work (59%), personal desire (56%) and positive experience in orthopedics during the university (56%). The negative factors that influence female to choose an orthopedic training program are mainly related with the idea of physical demand and a male predominant work environment. In Argentina, women represent only 13% of all the orthopedics residents and this number is similar to other international reports.

Introducción: El objetivo del estudio fue analizar las residencias ortopedia y traumatología en Argentina y determinar: 1) La proporción de mujeres; 2) Diferencias sociales y demográficas entre géneros: 3) Los factores que influyen positiva o negativamente en las mujeres al elegir ortopedia. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional y descriptivo en dos fases. Primera fase: se analizó la base de datos de la "Asociación Argentina de Ortopedia y Traumatología¨ durante el período 2016-2017. Segunda fase: se desarrolló una encuesta, enfocada en cuestiones demográficas, sociales y laborales, y se envió a todos los residentes de ortopedia. Resultados y conclusión: Se incluyeron 933 residentes,121 (13%) eran mujeres y 812 (87%) eran hombres. Recibimos 259 (28%) respuestas de la encuesta. En las características demográficas encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas en términos de matrimonio o convivencia: mujeres (16%) vs hombres (42%) (p <0,001); paternidad (23.3%) vs maternidad (4.5%) (p <0.001). Observamos que las mujeres prefieren principalmente ortopedia infantil, pie y el tobillo y mano, mientras que la elección primaria de los hombres es la artroplastia y la artroscopia. Focalizándonos en las mujeres, las tres razones principales para elegir esta residencia fueron: gusto por el trabajo manual (59%), deseo personal (56%) y experiencia positiva en ortopedia durante la universidad (56%). Dentro de los factores disuasivos se relacionan principalmente con la idea de la gran demanda física y un ambiente de trabajo predominantemente masculino. En Argentina, las mujeres representan solo el 13% de todos los residentes de ortopedia y este número es similar a otros informes internacionales.

[Denosumab as a treatment for giant cell tumor of bone. Indications, results and side effects]. / Denosumab como tratamiento neoadyuvante del tumor de células gigantes del hueso. Indicaciones, resultados y efectos adversos.

Giant cell tumor of bone is an intermediate, locally aggressive and rarely metastasizing, primary bone neoplasia. In recent years denosumab emerged as a treatment alternative for this pathology. The objective of this work was to analyze its indications as well as the clinical outcomes, side effects and local recurrence rates in patients diagnosed with giant cell tumor of bone, who received denosumab as neoadjuvant treatment. Between 2010 and 2018, 80 patients with giant cell tumor were analyzed, of whom 14 received denosumab as a neoadjuvant treatment. The minimum follow-up was 12 months. In 8 patients it was a primary tumor, while 6 showed tumor recurrence. In all cases, clinical improvement was evident. Thirteen patients presented radiographic changes, and 11 showed complete histological response. A local recurrence was evidenced in 6 of 14 patients, and at least one adverse effect related to denosumab (including tumor malignancy) was identified in 7. Despite being a useful tool for treating giant cell tumor, the use of denosumab is associated with a higher rate of local recurrences and is not free of adverse effects.

El tumor de células gigantes óseo es una neoplasia de agresividad local intermedia, que raramente metastatiza. En los últimos años el denosumab, anticuerpo monoclonal humano, surgió como una alternativa de tratamiento para esta enfermedad, al bloquear el comportamiento lítico tumoral. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar sus indicaciones y efectos adversos, analizando también los resultados oncológicos, y las tasas de recurrencia local en pacientes con diagnóstico de tumor de células gigantes óseo que recibieron denosumab como tratamiento neoadyuvante. Entre 2010 y 2018 se analizaron 80 pacientes con tumor de células gigantes, de los cuales 14 recibieron denosumab como tratamiento neoadyuvante. El seguimiento mínimo fue 12 meses. En 8 pacientes se trató de un tumor primario, mientras que 6 fueron pacientes con recidiva tumoral. En todos los casos se evidenció una mejoría clínica. Trece presentaron cambios radiográficos, y 11 respuesta histológica completa. En 6 de 14 pacientes se evidenció una recurrencia local y en 7 se identificó al menos un efecto adverso relacionado con el denosumab (incluyendo una malignización tumoral). A pesar de ser una herramienta útil para el tratamiento del tumor de células gigantes, el uso de denosumab está asociado a mayor tasa de recurrencias locales y no está exento de efectos adversos.

Soft tissue sarcomas in infants. Case series. / Sarcomas de partes blandas en pacientes menores de 2 años. Serie de casos.

Soft tissue sarcomas in children under 2 years of age are infrequent. During 2007-2017, a total of 445 patients diagnosed with soft tissue sarcomas were treated at our institution, 6(0.5%) were under 2 years. We analysed clinical and oncologic outcomes in this select group. The mean age of diagnosis was 15 months. Four patients were male and 2 female. The mean follow-up time was 29 months. Fibrosarcoma (n = 4) was the most frequent diagnosis. Five patients were treated with limb salvage surgery, and the remaining one had to undergo amputation. All patients received adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy. The 24-month survival rate was 100 %. Two patients presented a local recurrence before 24-months followup. Surgical treatment associated with chemotherapy seems to be the best therapeutic option. Local recurrence rate after limb salvage surgery is high for this group of patients.

Los sarcomas de partes blandas en menores de 2 años son infrecuentes. Durante 2007-2017, 445 pacientes con sarcomas de partes blandas fueron tratados en nuestra Institución; 6 (el 0,5 %) eran menores de 2 años. Se analizaron los resultados clínicos y oncológicos en este grupo. La edad media de diagnóstico fue 15 meses. Cuatro eran varones y 2, mujeres. El seguimiento promedio fue 29 meses. El fibrosarcoma (n = 4) fue la variedad más frecuente. Cinco fueron tratados con cirugía de conservación del miembro; al restante se le realizó amputación. Todos realizaron tratamiento adyuvante con quimioterapia. La supervivencia a 24 meses fue del 100 %. Dos pacientes presentaron recidiva local; ambos casos, antes de los 24 meses. El tratamiento quirúrgico asociado a la quimioterapia impresiona ser la mejor opción terapéutica. La proporción de recurrencia local es alta para este grupo de pacientes luego de la cirugía de conservación del miembro.