Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma (SEF) versus Low Grade Fibromyxoid Sarcoma (LGFMS): Presentation and outcome in the nationwide NETSARC+ series of 330 patients over 13 years.

Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma (SEF) and Low Grade Fibromyxoid Sarcoma (LGFMS) are ultrarare sarcomas sharing common translocations whose natural history are not well known. We report on the nationwide exhaustive series of 330 patients with SEF or LGFMS in NETSARC+ since 2010. PATIENTS AND METHODS: NETSARC (netsarc.org) is a network of 26 reference sarcoma centers with specialized multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDTB). Since 2010, (i) pathological review has been mandatory for sarcoma,and (ii) tumour/patients' characteristics have been collected in the NETSARC+ nationwide database. The characteristics of patients with SEF and LGFMS and their outcome are compared. RESULTS: 35/73 (48%) and 125/257(49%) of patients with SEF and LGFMS were female. More visceral, bone and trunk primary sites were observed in SEF (p < 0.001). 30% of SEF vs 4% of LGFMS patients had metastasis at diagnosis (p < 0.0001). Median size of the primary tumor was 51 mm (range 10-90) for LGFMS vs 80 (20-320) for SEF (p < 0.001). Median age for LGFMS patients was 12 years younger than that of SEF patients (43 [range 4-98] vs 55 [range 10-91], p < 0.001). Neoadjuvant treatment was more often given to SEF (16% vs 9%, p = 0.05). More patients with LGFMS were operated first in reference centers (51% vs 26%, p < 0.001). The R0 rate on the operative specimen was 41% in LGFMS vs 16% in SEF (p < 0.001). Median event-free survival (EFS) of patients with SEF and LGFMS were 32 vs 136 months (p < 0.0001). The median overall survival (OS) was not reached. Fifty-months OS was 93% vs 81% for LGFMS vs SEF (p = 0.05). Median OS was 77 months after first relapse, similar for SEF and LGFMS. In multivariate analysis, age, tumor size, metastasis at diagnosis were independent prognostic factors for OS in LGFMS. CONCLUSIONS: Although sharing close molecular alterations, SEF and LGFMS have a different natural history, clinical presentation and outcome, with a higher risk of metastatic relapse in SEF. Survival after relapse is longer than with other sarcomas, and similar for SEF and LGFMS.

The appropriate and sequential value of standard radiograph, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging to characterize a bone tumor.

Radiographs (XR), computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are regularly analyzed to determine whether a bone lesion is benign or malignant. An online quiz was created providing 15 cases with a clinical summary, MRI, CT, and XR. After each image, participants were asked to rate the probability (0-100%) the bone tumor was malignant. Order and difficulty of the images were randomly determined. Probability statements regarding the diagnosis were actualized along the sequence of exam, to quantify how the degree of belief changed to account for evidence from those exams. 64 physicians participated and provided 154 assessments from 1 (n = 18) to 3 (n = 44) different cases. After the first image, participants favored the correct malignancy status at 70%; 80% after the second and 80% after the third one. Participants were more likely to favor the correct malignancy status when the lesion was malignant and when first confronted with XR or CT, rather than MRI, though the most predictive factor of correct diagnosis was the difficulty of the case. In conclusion, the additional information provided by successive imaging studies was moderate. XR or CT seemed more appropriate than MRI as first imaging study. Bypassing XR should be discouraged.

Intramedullary, periosteal, and extraskeletal Ewing sarcomas: retrospective study of a series of 126 cases in a reference center.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the proportion of extraskeletal, periosteal, and intramedullary Ewing sarcomas among musculoskeletal Ewing sarcomas. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Our single-center retrospective study included patients with musculoskeletal Ewing sarcoma diagnosed between 2005 and 2019 in our pathology center (cases from our adult bone tumor referral center and adult and pediatric cases referred for review). Recurrences, metastases, and visceral Ewing sarcomas were excluded. Intramedullary Ewing sarcomas were defined by involvement of the medullary cavity. Periosteal cases were defined by involvement of the subperiosteal area without extension to the medullary cavity. Extraskeletal cases were defined by the absence of involvement of the bone tissue and the subperiosteal area. RESULTS: Our series included 126 patients with musculoskeletal Ewing sarcoma, including 118 skeletal Ewing sarcomas (93.7%) and 8 extraskeletal Ewing sarcomas (6.3%). Of the 118 skeletal Ewing sarcomas 112 were intramedullary (88.9%) and 6 were periosteal (4.8%). Extraskeletal Ewing sarcomas were more common in women and in patients older than 40 (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: The 6.3% proportion of extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma is lower than the median of 30% estimated from the literature. This difference could be explained by an overestimation of extraskeletal Ewing sarcomas of the chest wall (Askin tumors), an underestimation of periosteal cases confused with extraskeletal cases, and the presence of "Ewing-like" soft tissue sarcomas in previous series. Because of its prognostic and therapeutic impact, the distinction of morphologic subtypes requires the cooperation of experienced radiologists and pathologists.

The proximal vastus lateralis flap: An anatomical and radiological study.

INTRODUCTION: Soft-tissue reconstruction following acetabular or proximal femur resection for bone tumors is challenging. The vastus lateralis flap has been proposed as an advancement or rotational flap to cover soft-tissue defects for such locoregional indications. We performed an anatomical and a radiological study to assess the vascularization of the proximal vastus lateralis muscle achieved through the transverse branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery in order to decrease the morbidity of the classical flap retrieval technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five fresh adult cadavers were dissected bilaterally. Each vastus lateralis dissection was prealably injected with contrast-media agent through the lateral circumflex artery and CT scan images was recorded. A descriptive and an analytical study were carried out. RESULTS: The median length and width of the entire muscle were 31.2cm (Q1-Q3: 29.7-33.3) and 12.7cm (Q1-Q3: 7.0-14.9), respectively; the median surface area of the entire vastus lateralis muscle was 282cm2 (Q1-Q3: 172.6-455.6) cm2. The median length and width of the perfused area were 13.3cm (Q1-Q3: 12.3-16.6) and 9.4cm (Q1-Q3: 6.9-8.8) cm, respectively; the median surface of the perfused area was 89.4cm2 (Q1-Q3: 67.4-110.5) cm2. The mean length of the pedicle measured on the CT scan was 6.3cm (95% CI: 5.5-7.1). CONCLUSION: The proximal vastus lateralis flap as a pedicled muscular flap supplied by the transverse branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery is a muscular flap that can be used by reconstructive and orthopaedic surgeons to repair soft-tissue defects around the hip joint without undue damage to the functional apparatus of the knee.

Surgical Outcome and Oncological Survival of Osteofibrous Dysplasia-Like and Classic Adamantinomas: An International Multicenter Study of 318 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Osteofibrous dysplasia-like adamantinoma (OFD-AD) and classic adamantinoma (AD) are rare, neoplastic diseases with only limited data supporting current treatment protocols. We believe that our retrospective multicenter cohort study is the largest analysis of patients with adamantinoma to date. The primary purpose of this study was to describe the disease characteristics and evaluate the oncological outcomes. The secondary purpose was to identify risk factors for local recurrence after surgical treatment and propose treatment guidelines. METHODS: Three hundred and eighteen confirmed cases of OFD-AD and AD for which primary treatment was carried out between 1985 and 2015 were submitted by 22 tertiary bone tumor centers. Proposed clinical risk factors for local recurrence such as size, type, and margins were analyzed using univariable and multivariate Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 318 cases, 128 were OFD-AD and 190 were AD. The mean age at diagnosis was 17 years (median, 14.5 years) for OFD-AD and 32 years (median, 28 years) for AD; 53% of the patients were female. The mean tumor size in the OFD-AD and AD groups combined was 7.8 cm, measured histologically. Sixteen percent of the patients sustained a pathological fracture prior to treatment. Local recurrence was recorded in 22% of the OFD-AD cases and 24% of the AD cases. None of the recurrences in the OFD-AD group progressed to AD. Metastatic disease was found in 18% of the AD cases and fatal disease, in 11% of the AD cases. No metastatic or fatal disease was reported in the OFD-AD group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that uncontaminated resection margins (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.164, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.092 to 0.290, p < 0.001), pathological fracture (HR = 1.968, 95% CI = 1.076 to 3.600, p = 0.028), and sex (female versus male: HR = 0.535, 95% CI = 0.300 to 0.952, p = 0.033) impacted the risk of local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: OFD-AD and AD are parts of a disease spectrum but should be regarded as different entities. Our results support reclassification of OFD-AD into the intermediate locally aggressive category, based on the local recurrence rate of 22% and absence of metastases. In our study, metastatic disease was restricted to the AD group (an 18% rate). We advocate wide resection with uncontaminated margins including bone and involved periosteum for both OFD-AD and AD. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The indications and donor-site morbidity of tibial cortical strut autografts in the management of defects in long bones.

Aims: The primary aim of this study was to determine the morbidity of a tibial strut autograft and characterize the rate of bony union following its use. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively assessed a series of 104 patients from a single centre who were treated with a tibial strut autograft of > 5 cm in length. A total of 30 had a segmental reconstruction with continuity of bone, 27 had a segmental reconstruction without continuity of bone, 29 had an arthrodesis and 18 had a nonunion. Donor-site morbidity was defined as any event that required a modification of the postoperative management. Union was assessed clinically and radiologically at a median of 36 months (IQR, 14 to 74). Results: Donor-site morbidity occurred in four patients (4%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1 to 10). One patient had a stress fracture of the tibia, which healed with a varus deformity, requiring an osteotomy. Two patients required evacuation of a haematoma and one developed anterior compartment syndrome which required fasciotomies. The cumulative probability of union was 90% (95% CI 80 to 96) at five years. The type of reconstruction (p = 0.018), continuity of bone (p = 0.006) and length of tibial graft (p = 0.037) were associated with the time to union. Conclusion: The tibial strut autograft has a low risk of morbidity and provides adequate bone stock for treating various defects of long bones. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:667-74.

Quantitative assessment of the learning curve for cleft lip repair using LC-CUSUM.

The first step in cleft lip repair is the precise positioning of anatomical landmarks and tracing of the incisions on the patient's lip at the beginning of the procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate progress made in learning cleft lip repair tracing using a quantitative assessment of learning curves: LC-CUSUM (learning curve - cumulative sum). Eight surgical residents were enrolled and asked to trace lip repair incisions on five cases of unilateral left cleft lip over 5 consecutive weeks. Results were compared to a reference tracing based on the positioning of nine anatomical landmarks and assessed using LC-CUSUM. Competence was defined as the accurate positioning of the nine landmarks (less than 1.4mm deviation from the reference positions, with an accepted 15% failure rate). After five tracing sessions, competence was not achieved evenly for all trainees, or for all landmarks, underlining differences in inter-individual learning ability even with similar training. However, despite an initial marked lack of theoretical and practical training in lip repair techniques, repeated drawings of cleft lip incisions allowed a satisfactory level of competence to be reached for most landmarks and most trainees. Nevertheless it was found that not all landmarks are understood by students with similar ease, and that landmark positioning reveals significant inter-individual differences. This approach allowed a global assessment of the teaching of cleft repair and will help to focus training on specific problematic points for which competence was not obtained according to the LC-CUSUM test.

Is it safe to preserve the deltoid when resecting the proximal humerus for a primary malignant bone tumour? A comparative study.

AIMS: Resection of the proximal humerus for the primary malignant bone tumour sometimes requires en bloc resection of the deltoid. However, there is no information in the literature which helps a surgeon decide whether to preserve the deltoid or not. The aim of this study was to determine whether retaining the deltoid at the time of resection would increase the rate of local recurrence. We also sought to identify the variables that persuade expert surgeons to choose a deltoid sparing rather than deltoid resecting procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed 45 patients who had undergone resection of a primary malignant tumour of the proximal humerus. There were 29 in the deltoid sparing group and 16 in the deltoid resecting group. Imaging studies were reviewed to assess tumour extension and soft-tissue involvement. The presence of a fat rim separating the tumour from the deltoid on MRI was particularly noted. The cumulative probability of local recurrence was calculated in a competing risk scenario. RESULTS: There was no significant difference (adjusted p = 0.89) in the cumulative probability of local recurrence between the deltoid sparing (7%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1 to 20) and the deltoid resecting group (26%, 95% CI 8 to 50). Patients were more likely to be selected for a deltoid sparing procedure if they presented with a small tumour (p = 0.0064) with less bone involvement (p = 0.032) and a continuous fat rim on MRI (p = 0.002) and if the axillary nerve could be identified (p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: A deltoid sparing procedure can provide good local control after resection of the proximal humerus for a primary malignant bone tumour. A smaller tumour, the presence of a continuous fat rim and the identification of the axillary nerve on pre-operative MRI will persuade surgeons to opt for a deltoid resecting procedure. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1244-9.

[Algorithms for the identification of hospital stays due to osteoporotic femoral neck fractures in European medical administrative databases using ICD-10 codes: A non-systematic review of the literature]. / Algorithmes d'identification des séjours pour fracture du col du fémur d'origine ostéoporotique dans les bases médico-administratives européennes utilisant la CIM-10 : revue non systématique de la littérature.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporotic hip fractures (OHF) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The French medico-administrative database (SNIIRAM) offers an interesting opportunity to improve the management of OHF. However, the validity of studies conducted with this database relies heavily on the quality of the algorithm used to detect OHF. The aim of the REDSIAM network is to facilitate the use of the SNIIRAM database. The main objective of this study was to present and discuss several OHF-detection algorithms that could be used with this database. METHODS: A non-systematic literature search was performed. The Medline database was explored during the period January 2005-August 2016. Furthermore, a snowball search was then carried out from the articles included and field experts were contacted. The extraction was conducted using the chart developed by the REDSIAM network's "Methodology" task force. RESULTS: The ICD-10 codes used to detect OHF are mainly S72.0, S72.1, and S72.2. The performance of these algorithms is at best partially validated. Complementary use of medical and surgical procedure codes would affect their performance. Finally, few studies described how they dealt with fractures of non-osteoporotic origin, re-hospitalization, and potential contralateral fracture cases. CONCLUSIONS: Authors in the literature encourage the use of ICD-10 codes S72.0 to S72.2 to develop algorithms for OHF detection. These are the codes most frequently used for OHF in France. Depending on the study objectives, other ICD10 codes and medical and surgical procedures could be usefully discussed for inclusion in the algorithm. Detection and management of duplicates and non-osteoporotic fractures should be considered in the process. Finally, when a study is based on such an algorithm, all these points should be precisely described in the publication.

Proximal femoral osteosarcoma: Diagnostic challenges translate into delayed and inappropriate management.

BACKGROUND: The proximal femuris is an uncommon site of osteosarcoma. The unusual manifestations at this site may lead to diagnostic and therapeutic mistakes. We therefore performed a retrospective study to estimate the proportions of patients with imaging study findings and/or clinical manifestations typical for osteosarcoma and/or inappropriate treatment decisions. HYPOTHESIS: Proximal femoral osteosarcoma often produces atypical clinical and radiological presentations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent surgery at our center to treat proximal femoral osteosarcoma were included. For each patient, we collected the epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms, imaging study findings, treatment, and tumor outcome. Proportions were computed with their confidence intervals. RESULTS: Twelve patients had surgery for proximal femoral osteosarcoma between 1986 and 2015. Imaging findings were typical in 1 (8%) patient; they consisted of ill-defined osteolysis in 11/12 (92%) patients, a periosteal reaction in 1/12 (8%) patient, soft tissue involvement in 7/12 (58%) patients, and immature osteoid matrix in 11/12 (92%) patients. No patient had the typical combination of pain with a soft tissue swelling. Management was inappropriate in 2/12 (17%) patients, who did not undergo all the recommended imaging studies before surgery and were treated in another center before the correct diagnosis was established. At last follow-up, 4 patients had died (after a mean of 7 years) and 8 were alive (after a mean of 4 years). CONCLUSION: Proximal femoral osteosarcoma is uncommon and rarely produces the typical clinical and imaging study findings. The atypical presentation often results in diagnostic errors and inappropriate treatments. Ill-defined osteolysis on standard radiographs should prompt computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the proximal femur. Treatment in a specialized center is imperative. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, retrospective study.

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma: A European Musculoskeletal Oncology Society study on 266 patients.

PURPOSE: Prognosis of extraskeletal osteosarcoma (ESOS) is reported to be poorer than that of skeletal osteosarcoma. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to evaluate factors influencing ESOS prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Members of the European Musculoskeletal Oncology Society (EMSOS) submitted institutional data on patients with ESOS. RESULTS: Data from 274 patients treated from 1981 to 2014 were collected from 16 EMSOS centres; 266 patients were eligible. Fifty (18.7%) had metastases at diagnosis. Of 216 patients with localised disease, 211 (98%) underwent surgery (R0 = 70.6%, R1 = 27%). Five-year overall survival (OS) for all 266 patients was 47% (95% CI 40-54%). Five-year OS for metastatic patients was 27% (95% CI 13-41%). In the analysis restricted to the 211 localised patients who achieved complete remission after surgery 5-year OS was 51.4% (95% CI 44-59%) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 43% (95% CI 35-51%). One hundred twenty-one patients (57.3%) received adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 80 patients (37.9%) received radiotherapy. A favourable trend was seen for osteosarcoma-type chemotherapy versus soft tissue sarcoma-type (doxorubicin ± ifosfamide) regimens. For the 211 patients in complete remission after surgery, patient age, tumour size, margins and chemotherapy were positive prognostic factors for DFS and OS by univariate analysis. At multivariate analysis, patient age (≤40 years versus >40 years) (P = 0.05), tumour size (P = 0.0001) and receipt of chemotherapy (P = 0.006) were statistically significant prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSION: Patient age and tumour size are factors influencing ESOS prognosis. Higher survival was observed in patients who received perioperative chemotherapy with a trend in favour of multiagent osteosarcoma-type regimen which included doxorubicin, ifosfamide and cisplatin.

Metastatic fractures of long limb bones.

The diagnosis of pathological fracture should be considered routinely in patients with long limb-bone fractures. Investigations must be performed to establish the diagnosis of pathological fracture then to determine that the bone lesion is a metastasis. In over 85% of cases, the clinical evaluation combined with a detailed analysis of the radiographs is sufficient to determine that the fracture occurred at a tumour site. Aetiological investigations establish that the tumour is a metastasis. In some patients, the diagnosis of metastatic cancer antedates the fracture. When this is not the case, a diagnostic strategy should be devised, with first- to third-line investigations. When these fail to provide the definitive diagnosis, a surgical biopsy should be performed. The primaries most often responsible for metastatic bone disease are those of the breast, lung, kidney, prostate, and thyroid gland. However, the survival gains provided by newly introduced treatments translate into an increased frequency of bone metastases from other cancers. The optimal treatment of a pathological fracture is preventive. The Mirels score is helpful for determining whether preventive measures are indicated. When selecting a treatment for a pathological fracture, important considerations are the type of tumour, availability of effective adjuvant treatments, and general health of the patient. Metastatic fractures are best managed by a multidisciplinary team. The emergent treatment should start with optimisation of the patient's general condition, in particular by identifying and treating metabolic disorders (e.g., hypercalcaemia) and haematological disorders. Treatment decisions also depend on the above-listed general factors, location of the tumour, and size of the bony defect. Prosthetic reconstruction is preferred for epiphyseal fractures and internal fixation for diaphyseal fractures.

A cemented acetabular component with a reinforcement cross provides excellent medium-term fixation in total hip arthroplasty after pelvic irradiation.

Conventional cemented acetabular components are reported to have a high rate of failure when implanted into previously irradiated bone. We recommend the use of a cemented reconstruction with the addition of an acetabular reinforcement cross to improve fixation. We reviewed a cohort of 45 patients (49 hips) who had undergone irradiation of the pelvis and a cemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) with an acetabular reinforcement cross. All hips had received a minimum dose of 30 Gray (Gy) to treat a primary nearby tumour or metastasis. The median dose of radiation was 50 Gy (Q1 to Q3: 45 to 60; mean: 49.57, 32 to 72). The mean follow-up after THA was 51 months (17 to 137). The cumulative probability of revision of the acetabular component for a mechanical reason was 0% (0 to 0%) at 24 months, 2.9% (0.2 to 13.3%) at 60 months and 2.9% (0.2% to 13.3%) at 120 months, respectively. One hip was revised for mechanical failure and three for infection. Cemented acetabular components with a reinforcement cross provide good medium-term fixation after pelvic irradiation. These patients are at a higher risk of developing infection of their THA.

Influence of socioprofessional category on the duration of sick leave after hallux surgery: a prospective study of 102 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Surgery of the forefoot including the hallux involves procedures on one bone or more. Usually bone union occurs within 45 days after surgery. During convalescence, the patient can gradually return to his/her activities. The duration of sick leave (SL) can be used to evaluate the influence of convalescence on professional life. The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of the socioprofessional category (SPC) on the duration of SL after surgery of the forefoot including the hallux. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a single center, single surgeon prospective cohort study performed between January 2012 and March 2013. It included working patients over 18 who underwent hallux surgery associated or not with surgery of the lateral rays. A standardized questionnaire was filled out during the postoperative day 45 consultation to determine factors that could influence the duration of sick leave. Regression models (Cox model) were used to indentify variables associated with the duration of sick leave. RESULTS: Among the operated patients, 102 were included and divided into 5 SPC. SL lasted a mean 45 days (from 8 to 90 days). The only predictive factors for the duration of SL on multivariate analysis using SPC 2 as a reference were SPC and the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale). The mean duration of SL was 15 days for SPC 2, 35 days for SPC 3, 47 days for SPC 4, 50 days for SPC 5 and 67 days for SPC 6. DISCUSSION-CONCLUSION: The distribution of SPC was comparable to that of the working population in the Île de France. The SPC appears to be a predictive factor for the duration of SL after hallux surgery. Severe pain seems to increase the duration of SL. Surgeons and patients should be informed accordingly. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

The intra-operative radius joystick test to diagnose complete disruption of the interosseous membrane.

Disruption of the interosseous membrane is easily missed in patients with Essex-Lopresti syndrome. None of the imaging techniques available for diagnosing disruption of the interosseous membrane are completely dependable. We undertook an investigation to identify whether a simple intra-operative test could be used to diagnose disruption of the interosseous membrane during surgery for fracture of the radial head and to see if the test was reproducible. We studied 20 cadaveric forearms after excision of the radial head, ten with and ten without disruption of the interosseous membrane. On each forearm, we performed the radius joystick test: moderate lateral traction was applied to the radial neck with the forearm in maximal pronation, to look for lateral displacement of the proximal radius indicating that the interosseous membrane had been disrupted. Each of six surgeons (three junior and three senior) performed the test on two consecutive days. Intra-observer agreement was 77% (95% confidence interval (CI) 67 to 85) and interobserver agreement was 97% (95% CI 92 to 100). Sensitivity was 100% (95% CI 97 to 100), specificity 88% (95% CI 81 to 93), positive predictive value 90% (95% CI 83 to 94), and negative predictive value 100%). This cadaveric study suggests that the radius joystick test may be useful for detecting disruption of the interosseous membrane in patients undergoing open surgery for fracture of the radial head and is reproducible. A confirmatory study in vivo is now required.

Monitoring the quality of total hip replacement in a tertiary care department using a cumulative summation statistical method (CUSUM).

The purpose of this study was to define immediate post-operative 'quality' in total hip replacements and to study prospectively the occurrence of failure based on these definitions of quality. The evaluation and assessment of failure were based on ten radiological and clinical criteria. The cumulative summation (CUSUM) test was used to study 200 procedures over a one-year period. Technical criteria defined failure in 17 cases (8.5%), those related to the femoral component in nine (4.5%), the acetabular component in 32 (16%) and those relating to discharge from hospital in five (2.5%). Overall, the procedure was considered to have failed in 57 of the 200 total hip replacements (28.5%). The use of a new design of acetabular component was associated with more failures. For the CUSUM test, the level of adequate performance was set at a rate of failure of 20% and the level of inadequate performance set at a failure rate of 40%; no alarm was raised by the test, indicating that there was no evidence of inadequate performance. The use of a continuous monitoring statistical method is useful to ensure that the quality of total hip replacement is maintained, especially as newer implants are introduced.

Intercalary defects reconstruction of the femur and tibia after primary malignant bone tumour resection. A series of 13 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Performing intercalary segment reconstruction after malignant bone tumour resection results in both mechanical and biological challenges. Fixation must be solid enough to avoid short-term or mid-term mechanical failure. The use of an allograft or autograft must ensure long-term survival of the reconstruction. The goal of this study was to analyse the clinical and radiological outcomes of these reconstructions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients were operated on eight femurs and five tibias. The median age was 20 years old (range 14-50). The most common diagnosis was osteosarcoma. The median resection length was 15cm (Q1-Q3: 6-26). A plate was used for fixation in nine cases and an intramedullary locked nail in four cases. An isolated bone autograft was used in two cases, an isolated bone allograft in one case, a dual autograft-allograft composite in six cases, and vascularised fibula and allograft combination in four cases. RESULTS: The cumulative probability of union was 46% (95% CI: 0-99%) at 1 year; at the final follow-up, union was achieved in 12 patients (92%). Because of non-unions, 13 iterative procedures were needed to obtain these results. A non-displaced fracture of a cuboid-shaped tibial graft occurred in one patient, which was treated conservatively. Three infections occurred. DISCUSSION: The results of intercalary segmental defects reconstruction after bone tumour resection were good, both from an oncologic and radiological point-of-view. One or more iterative procedures are sometimes needed to finally obtain bone union. We prefer to use a free rectangular cuboidal tibial graft since reconstruction with a vascularised autograft is technically more difficult. The choice of fixation methods is still controversial and no approach was found to be superior. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV. Retrospective study.

Fixation of pathological humeral fractures by the cemented plate technique.

Pathological fractures of the humerus are associated with pain, morbidity, loss of function and a diminished quality of life. We report our experience of stabilising these fractures using polymethylmethacrylate and non-locking plates. We undertook a retrospective review over 20 years of patients treated at a tertiary musculoskeletal oncology centre. Those who had undergone surgery for an impending or completed pathological humeral fracture with a diagnosis of metastatic disease or myeloma were identified from our database. There were 63 patients (43 men, 20 women) in the series with a mean age of 63 years (39 to 87). All had undergone intralesional curettage of the tumour followed by fixation with intramedullary polymethylmethacrylate and plating. Complications occurred in 14 patients (22.2%) and seven (11.1%) required re-operation. At the latest follow-up, 47 patients (74.6%) were deceased and 16 (25.4%) were living with a mean follow-up of 75 months (1 to 184). A total of 54 (86%) patients had no or mild pain and 50 (80%) required no or minimal assistance with activities of daily living. Of the 16 living patients none had pain and all could perform activities of daily living without assistance. Intralesional resection of the tumour, filling of the cavity with cement, and plate stabilisation of the pathological fracture gives immediate rigidity and allows an early return of function without the need for bony union. The patient's local disease burden is reduced, which may alleviate tumour-related pain and slow the progression of the disease. The cemented-plate technique provides a reliable option for the treatment of pathological fractures of the humerus.