Patients' perception of changes and consequences after tumor resection : A qualitative study in Austrian patients with musculoskeletal malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and consequences of surgical treatment of patients with musculoskeletal malignancies on everyday life. METHODS: A modified form of grounded theory was used for data collection and analysis. Data collection was systematic and analyzed simultaneously and 16 interviews were conducted: 2 narrative, 11 guided and 3 expert interviews (surgeon, physical therapist, support group). Data collection and analysis alternated until no new codes could be found. Once theoretical saturation was achieved, the main category was formed and described using the literature. RESULTS: The main category results from the combination of all categories and leads to the core category. In the center is the affected person and in the immediate environment are the patient's relatives/partners. In the next instance the primary care physician is necessary to establish a sense of normalcy. This depends on the individuality of the person and the restored possibilities of movement. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, the necessity of implementing psychosocial care involving the social environment is shown. The importance of relatives/partners for recovery is emphasized. Furthermore, the communication between the specialists and family physicians should be simplified.

Results in the surgical treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts - A retrospective data analysis.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABC) are benign tumors mostly occurring in children and young adults. Different open and minimal invasive surgical approaches have been proposed for the treatment of ABCs and yet no consensus is defined to date. The aim of this study was to retrospectively review data of a large single center series of ABCs with patients treated by open curettage with or without filling of the cavity or en-bloc resection. Questions/purposes We asked: (1) What was the local recurrence rate of ABC after surgical treatment at our institution? (2) What were positive or negative predictors for local recurrence? (3) Was there a benefit from adjuvant burring, phenolization or filling, respectively? (4) Where there changes in recurrence free survival in different time periods of primary surgery? METHODS: By retrospective data analysis of the Vienna Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Registry, 123 patients surgically treated for primary aneurysmal bone cysts were identified. After exclusion of 33 patients (27%) due to a postoperative follow up below one year, 90 patients who were treated for primary ABCs between 1986 and 2009 were evaluated. These included 50 males and 40 females with a mean age of 16 years (SD 10 years; range: 2 to 51 years). The mean follow-up was 99 months. (SD 72 months, range: 13 to 329 months) RESULTS: Curettage was performed in 84 patients, while 45 patients received adjuvant phenolization. Local recurrence occurred in 28 patients after a mean time of 16 months, with a corresponding local recurrence free survival (RFS) of 83% after one year, 77% after 2 years and 66% after 5 years. ABCs located in hands and feet (p=0.044) showed a superior RFS, while younger patients (p=0.001) displayed an inferior RFS. Regarding adjuvant surgical techniques, mechanical cavity burring (p=0.004) and filling with autologous cancellous bone graft (p=0.024) showed protective effects on RFS. Patients treated between 1986 and 1999 (n=47) had a higher RFS than patients treated between 2000 and 2009 (n=43, p=0.011), as surgeons and surgical indications changed over time. CONCLUSION: Although curettage, burring, phenolization and reconstruction with bone grafts came with a relatively high risk of local recurrence, open surgery is still justified in aggressively growing ABCs of critical localizations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; therapeutic study.

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy versus incisional biopsy in soft tissue sarcoma: an institutional experience.

Core needle biopsy (CNB) is gaining in importance due to its advantages in the matter of patient morbidity, time and cost. Nevertheless, controversies still exist regarding the biopsy technique of choice for the accurate diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma (STS). This retrospective cohort study compared the diagnostic performance between ultrasound-guided CNB and incisional biopsy (IB), both performed by orthopedic surgeons. The aims of the study were to answer the following questions: (1) Is ultrasound-guided CNB a highly reliable modality for diagnosing STSs? (2) Is CNB equally useful to IB for identifying histologic subtype? (3) Had patients who underwent CNB a reduced risk of complications? One-hundred and fifty-three patients who underwent resection of soft tissue sarcoma were classified into two groups according to biopsy technique prior to surgery; CNB group (n = 95) and IB group (n = 58). The final surgical specimens were in 40 patients liposarcoma (myxoid, pleomorphic and dedifferentiated), 39 undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), 33 myxofibrosarcoma, 10 synovial sarcoma, 10 leiomyosarcoma and in the remaining 21 patients different soft tissue sarcoma entities. Sarcoma location of 71 patients was in the thigh, 19 in the lower leg, 22 in the upper arm and shoulder area; 10 in the knee and gluteal region, 9 in the thoracic region, the residual 12 in other body areas. Malignancy was correctly diagnosed in 87% (83 of 95) for the CNB group and 93% (54/58) for the IB group. Correct identification rate of histologic subtype was 80% (76 of 95) in the CNB group and 83% (48 of 58) in the IB group. There were no significant differences in the correct diagnosis rates of malignancy and subtype between the two techniques. No complications were seen in the CNB group, whereas 2 patients in whom IB was performed developed pulmonary embolism and 1 patient surgical site infection. Ultrasound-guided CNB is highly accurate and not inferior to IB in diagnosing the dignity of lesions and histologic subtype in patients with suspected STSs.

What sports activity levels are achieved in long-term survivors with modular endoprosthetic humerus reconstruction following primary bone sarcoma resection?

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess (1) sports activity, (2) sports involving the upper extremities, (3) functional outcome and (4) sports-related complications of long-term survivors of primary malignant bone tumors of the proximal humerus. METHODS: A total of 18 patients with an endoprosthetic reconstruction for primary malignant bone sarcoma of the proximal humerus (8 male, 10 female, mean age 19.9 ± 8.4 years, range 7.8-37.4 years) with an average follow-up of 18.1 ± 7.4 years (range 6.7-29.8 years) were included. The type of sport, frequency, duration of each sport session and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score were assessed before surgery, at 1 year, 3 years and at the latest follow-up. Functional outcome was assessed by the Toronto extremity salvage score (TESS). RESULTS: The mean UCLA activity score decreased from 8.0 (±1.3, range 5-9) preoperative to 4.2 (±1.7, range 3-8) at 1­year follow-up (p < 0.05). After 3 years it increased to 5.1 (±1.75, range 3-8) and further to 7 (±1.8, range 4-9) at the last follow-up. The mean postoperative TESS was 80.8 (±6.4, range 75.7-91.4) at the latest follow-up. Patients who were initially more active without reconstruction including a synthetic mesh were more likely to develop soft tissue complications accompanied by proximal endoprothesis migration. CONCLUSION: Patients with a modular endoprosthetic reconstruction of the humerus following primary bone sarcoma resume participation in sports. Regarding the low incidence of periprosthetic infections, utilization of a synthetic mesh for reconstruction to prevent soft tissue complications in active patients should be considered.

Nonmechanical Revision Indications Portend Repeat Limb-Salvage Failure Following Total Femoral Replacement.

BACKGROUND: There is scant evidence to guide decision-making for patients considering total femoral replacement (TFR). We aimed to identify the indication, patient, disease, and surgical technique-related factors associated with failure. We hypothesized that failure occurs more frequently in the setting of revision surgical procedures, with infection as the predominant failure mode. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients receiving total femoral endoprostheses for oncological and revision arthroplasty indications; 166 patients met these criteria. Our primary independent variable of interest was TFR for a revision indication (arthroplasty or limb salvage); the primary outcome was failure. Analyses were performed for patient variables (age, sex, diagnosis group, indication), implant variables (model, decade, length, materials), and treatment variables. We analyzed TFR failures with respect to patient factors, operative technique, and time to failure. We conducted bivariate logistic regressions predicting failure and used a multivariate model containing variables showing bivariate associations with failure. RESULTS: Forty-four patients (27%) had treatment failure. Failure occurred in 24 (23%) of 105 primary TFRs and in 20 (33%) of 61 revision TFRs; the difference was not significant (p = 0.134) in bivariate analysis but was significant (p = 0.044) in multivariate analysis. The mean age at the time of TFR was 37 years in the primary group and 51 years in the revision group (p = 0.0006). Of the patients who had mechanical failure, none had reoccurrence of their original failure mode, whereas all 8 patients from the nonmechanical cohort had reoccurrence of the original failure mode; this difference was significant (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: TFR has a high failure rate and a propensity for deep infection, especially in the setting of revision indications and prior infection. All failed TFRs performed for revision indications for infection or local recurrence failed by reoccurrence of the original failure mode and resulted in amputation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Surgical and Functional Outcome after Endoprosthetic Reconstruction in Patients with Osteosarcoma of the Humerus.

Endoprosthetic reconstruction (EPR) is the most widely used reconstruction technique after humeral osteosarcoma (OSA). Complications are common and function is often compromised due to the premise of wide resection. In the current study we evaluated (1) the risk of complications after resection and EPR; (2) the functional outcome and how it is influenced by the preservation/resection of deltoid muscle (DM), rotator cuff (RC), axillary nerve or the type of resection (intra-/extraarticular) and (3) if the preservation/resection of DM, RC, axillary nerve or the type of resection has a negative influence on the oncological outcome. We retrospectively evaluated data of 49 patients with humeral OSA. All patients underwent resection and EPR. Complication-free survival according to the ISOLS classification was estimated by a competing risk model. Functional outcome was evaluated by range of motion (ROM) in abduction and the MSTS score. Eleven patients (22%) had at least one complication. The estimated cumulative incidence for the first complication was 18% at one year, 23% at five years, and 28% at ten years, respectively. Soft tissue failure was the most common complication. ROM and MSTS scores were significantly higher in patients where DM and RC (p = 0.043/p = 0.046) and axillary nerve (p = 0.014/p = 0.021) could be preserved. Preservation of these structures had no negative influence on the surgical margins. In conclusion, EPR is a good treatment method with an acceptable complication rate. Preservation of the abductor mechanism, when possible in the setting of obtaining negative margins, provides superior functional outcome.

Predicting medical complications in spine surgery: evaluation of a novel online risk calculator.

PURPOSE: The preoperative prediction of medical complications is essential to optimize perioperative management. SpineSage™ is a free of charge online calculator to predict medical complications in spine surgery. The current study utilizes it in patients undergoing spine surgery to assess whether the predicted risks would correlate with the actual complication rate in clinical practice. METHODS: A total of 273 consecutive patients who underwent spinal surgery were assessed. The risk of medical complications was predicted for each patient, and all medical complications were recorded within 30 days of surgery. Based on their predicted risk of complication, patients were divided into three risk groups (< 15, 15-30, > 30%). RESULTS: The predicted overall risk of medical complications was 14.7% and was comparable to the observed complication rate of 16.1%. The predicted risk for major medical complications (3.8%) was also similar to the observed complication rate (3.3%). Detailed analysis of the segmented risk groups suggests a close correlation between predicted and actual complication rates. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.71 (p < 0.001) for the prediction of overall medical complications and 0.85 (p < 0.001) for major complications. CONCLUSIONS: The online risk calculator predicted both overall and major medical complications. The tool can assist in preoperative planning and counseling of patients. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Computer navigation-assisted surgery for musculoskeletal tumors: a closer look into the learning curve.

BACKGROUND: Computer navigation-assisted surgery for musculoskeletal tumors has shown to reduce the risk of intra-lesional margins in resection. Experiences with this method are still limited to smaller case series. METHOD: We reviewed our first experiences in 24 patients in whom computer navigation-assisted surgery had been performed. In 7 of these patients (6 male and 1 female), this has influenced the surgical treatment plan and navigation was used for both tumor resection and reconstruction. Three of the patients suffered from a chondrosarcoma, 2 from an osteosarcoma, 1 from a fibrosarcoma and 1 from an Ewing's sarcoma. Tumors were localized in the femur (n = 2), the tibia (n = 1), the sacrum (n = 1), the humerus (n = 1), the ilium (n = 1) and in the gluteal region (n = 1). RESULTS: The mean registration error was 0.9 mm. No intra-operative complications occurred. Two postoperative complications were observed which required revision surgery. Except for one marginal resection, all tumors were excised with wide margins. One patient suffered from a local recurrence, and one patient died of disease after distant metastatic dissemination. CONCLUSION: Computer navigation-assisted surgery represents a safe and helpful tool for the resection of musculoskeletal tumors and may influence surgical treatment plans in selected cases to provide more limited resections. Surgeons should be aware of risks considering biomechanical and oncological consequences in doing so. Further investigations and the evaluation of newer techniques (e.g., computed tomography-guided navigation) are needed to assess long-term outcomes of computer navigation assistance in musculoskeletal tumor surgery.

Oncological and surgical outcome after treatment of pelvic sarcomas.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Treatment of pelvic tumors remains challenging due to complex anatomy, poor oncological outcome and high complication rates. We sought to investigate the long-term oncological and surgical outcome of these patients. METHODS: Between 1980 and 2012, 147 patients underwent surgical treatment for pelvic sarcoma. Histological diagnosis was Chondrosarcoma in 54, Ewing's Sarcoma/PNET in 37, Osterosarcoma in 32 and others in 24 patients. Statistical analysis for the evaluation of oncological and surgical outcome was performed by applying Cox proportional hazards regression and Fine-Gray regression models for competing risk (CR) endpoints. RESULTS: The estimated overall survival (OS) to death was 80%, 45% and 37% at 1, 5 and 10 years, respectively. Univariate analyses revealed a statistically significant unadjusted influence of age age (p = 0.038; HR = 1.01), margin (p = 0.043; HR = 0.51) and grade (p = 0.001; HR = 2.27) on OS. Considering the multivariable model, grade (p = 0.005; HR = 3.04) and tumor volume (p = 0.014; HR = 1.18) presented themselves as independent prognostic factors on OS. CR analysis showed a cumulative incidence for major complication of 31% at 5 years. Endoprosthetic reconstruction had a higher risk for experiencing a major complication (p<0.0001) and infection (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic resections are still associated with a high incidence of complications. Patients with pelvic reconstruction and high volume tumors are especially at risk. Consequently, a cautious decision-making process is necessary when indicating pelvic reconstruction, although a restrictive approach to pelvic reconstruction is not necessarily reasonable when the other option is major amputation.

What Sport Activity Levels Are Achieved in Patients After Resection and Endoprosthetic Reconstruction for a Proximal Femur Bone Sarcoma?

BACKGROUND: Limited information is available about sports activities of survivors after resection and reconstruction of primary malignant bone tumors with megaprostheses. Because patients often ask what activities are possible after treatment, objective knowledge about sports activities is needed to help assess the risks of sports participation and to help guide patients' expectations. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The aims of this study were to evaluate (1) what proportion of patients with proximal-femoral megaprostheses placed as part of tumor reconstructions can perform sports; (2) what activity levels they achieved; and (3) whether sports activity levels are associated with an increased likelihood of revision. METHODS: This retrospective study considered all 27 living patients in our institutional tumor registry with enduring proximal-femoral reconstructions performed more than 5 years ago who were between the ages of 11 and 49 years at the time of the reconstruction; seven were lost to followup and one was excluded because of paraplegia as a result of a car accident and another because of senile dementia; another two were excluded from statistics because of growing prostheses and skeletal immaturity at the time of followup, leaving 16 (11 male, five female) for analysis. Their mean age was 26 ± 12 years (range, 11-49 years) at surgery, and the mean followup was 18 ± 7 years (range, 5-27 years). Types of sports, frequency per week, duration of each sports session as well as the UCLA and modified Weighted Activity Score were assessed retrospectively by an independent assessor a median of 18 years (range, 5.3-27 years) after surgery. RESULTS: Patients recalled that preoperatively 14 were practicing sports 5 (± 4) hours/week. At followup, 11 of the patients were practicing one or more sports activities 2 (± 3) hours/week on a regular basis. The preoperative UCLA and modified Weighted Activity Score levels of 9 and 6 fell to levels of 6 (p = 0.005) and 3 (p = 0.025), respectively, at followup. With the numbers of patients available for study, we could not determine that prosthetic failures were associated with sport activity levels. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who survive primary malignant bone tumors in the proximal femur reconstructed by megaprostheses are able to perform some sports activities. The estimates of activity levels made in this study probably are best-case estimates, given that some patients were lost to followup; patients unaccounted for might not be doing as well as those represented here. Also, the degree to which sports participation influences implant durability remains, for the most part, unanswered; studies with more patients and longer followup will be needed to determine to what degree prosthesis survivorship relates to sporting activity levels. Most patients perform low-impact sports and at a lower level than they had preoperatively. Because this is a preliminary study of a select group of patients, further information is necessary to weight the benefits of higher sports activity levels against potential risks. If this can be confirmed in a larger number of patients, the information may guide surgeons in their discussion with patients preoperatively and give them some objective assessment of what to expect regarding sports activities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.

LARS® band and tube for extensor mechanism reconstructions in proximal tibial modular endoprostheses after bone tumors.

UNLABELLED: Wide tumor resections around the proximal tibia (pT) are related to compromised function and high complication rates. This retrospective study aims to present the technique employed as well as functional and surgical outcomes of patients undergoing a Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS®) reconstruction of the knee extensor apparatus after tumor resection and modular endoprosthetic reconstruction of the proximal tibia. Twenty-five patients who received an artificial ligament after pT resection (11 men and 14 women; mean age, 29years; range 11 to 75years, with a minimum follow-up of 24months) were analyzed regarding the ISOLS failure mode classification. Twenty patients received LARS® during primary surgery, five patients during a revision of a pT modular endoprosthesis. LARS® was available as a band or a tube. The mean extension lag was nine degrees (range, 0 to 30°), the mean flexion was 103° (range, 60 to 130°). The mean extension lag and active flexion in primary implanted LARS were 7.8° and 101° versus secondarily implanted 45° and 115° (p<0.0001; p=0.15). Eleven out of 14 primary implanted LARS® band/tubes (71%) did well with extension lag (0 to 10°). LARS® usage as a band or as a tube showed similar results. The estimated five-year survival of LARS® was 92%. The median survival of LARS® implanted primarily was better than in the case of secondary implantation (p=0.006). Extensor mechanism reconstruction by LARS® band or tube shows excellent function and satisfactory implant survival after primary reconstruction of the extensor mechanism after proximal tibia resection. We experienced no LARS® rupture for only mechanical reasons. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV retrospective study.

C-reactive protein as a prognostic factor in patients with chordoma of lumbar spine and sacrum--a single center pilot study.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective, diagnostic study, level IV. BACKGROUND: It appears to be necessary to identify prognostic markers for individual risk estimation for progression and survival in patients with chordoma, a rare disease. Are pre-operative serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) associated with disease progression and survival? METHODS: Survival rates of 24 patients (18 males, 6 females) (mean age 67 years (SD ± 16; range 20-85 years); minimum follow-up 2 years, mean follow-up 5 years (SD ± 5; range 2-19 years)) with chordoma of the lower spine and sacrum were assessed with a focus on pre-operative CRP levels. RESULTS: The survival rate of patients with pre-operative CRP level of >1.0 mg/dl was lower than that of patients with a CRP level <1.0 mg/dl (p = 0.01). The estimated 10-year survival of patients with pre-operative CRP values <1.0 and >1.0 mg/dl was 76 and 25%, respectively. CRP remained as an independent survival factor (p = 0.025; CI 95% 1.0-2.6) in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative CRP levels appear to be a biomarker for disease-specific survival in patients with chordoma of the lumbar spine and sacrum. A validation of our finding with larger cohorts and integration of putative risk factor would further elucidate CRP a surrogate for tumor progression.

Elevated serum creatinine and low albumin are associated with poor outcomes in patients with liposarcoma.

Low serum albumin levels and impaired kidney function have been associated with decreased survival in patients with a variety of cancer types. In a retrospective cohort study, we analyzed 84 patients with liposarcoma treated at from May 1994 to October 2011. Uni- and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models and competing risk analyses were performed to evaluate the association between putative biomarkers with disease-specific and overall survival. The median age of the study population was 51.7 (range 19.6-83.8) years. In multivariable analysis adjusted for AJCC tumor stage, serum creatinine was highly associated with disease-specific survival (Subdistribution Hazard ratio (SHR) per 1 mg/dl increase = 2.94; 95%CI 1.39-6.23; p = 0.005). High albumin was associated with improved overall and disease-specific survival (Hazard Ratio (HR) per 10 units increase = 0.50; 95%CI 0.26-0.95; p = 0.033 and SHR = 0.64; 95%CI 0.42-1.00; p = 0.049). The serum albumin-creatinine-ratio emerged to be associated with both overall and disease-specific survival after adjusting for AJCC tumor stage (HR = 0.95; 95%CI 0.92-0.99; p = 0.011 and SHR = 0.96; 95%CI 0.93-0.99; p = 0.08). Our study provides evidence for a tumor-stage-independent association between higher creatinine and lower albumin with worse disease-specific survival. Low albumin and a high albumin-creatinine-ratio independently predict poor overall survival. Our work identified novel prognostic biomarkers for prognosis of patients with liposarcoma.

Outcome after Reconstruction of the Proximal Tibia--Complications and Competing Risk Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The proximal tibia (pT) is a common site for bone tumors. Improvements in imaging, chemotherapy and surgical technique made limb salvage surgery the treatment of choice. Yet, reconstructions of the pT have been associated with less favorable outcome compared to other parts of the extremities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with a modular endoprosthetic reconstruction of the pT. METHODS: Eighty-one consecutive patients with an average age of 29 years underwent endoprosthetic reconstruction of the pT. Postoperative complications were categorized according to the ISOLS classification, and revision-free survival until first complication (any Type 1-5), soft tissue failure (Type 1), aseptic loosening (Type 2), structural failure (Type 3), infection (Type 4), and local tumor progression (Type 5) was estimated by using a Fine-Gray model for competing risk analyses for univariate and multivariable regression with Firth's bias correction. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients (56%) had at least one complication. Cumulative incidence for complication Types 1 to 5 at 5 years with death and amputation as competing events revealed a risk of 41% for the first complication, 14% for Type 1, 16% for Type 2, 11% for Type 3, 17% for Type 4, and 1% for Type 5. CONCLUSION: Despite inclusion of amputation and death as strong competing events, pT replacements are still associated with a high risk of postoperative failures. The results suggest that infection and soft tissue failures (Type 1 and 5) seem to depend from each other. Sufficient soft tissue reconstruction and closure allow better function and reduce the risk of infection as the most prominent complication. The use of a rotating hinge design has significantly reduced structural failures over time.

What sports activity levels are achieved in patients with modular tumor endoprostheses of osteosarcoma about the knee?

BACKGROUND: Advances in multimodal treatment have improved survival of patients with nonmetastatic osteosarcoma. At the same time, implant design has improved the outcomes of limb salvage with modular endoprostheses. However, little is known about sports activity in long-term survivors with osteosarcoma. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We wanted to evaluate (1) sports activity levels in long-term survivors of osteosarcoma about the knee who received a modular tumor endoprosthesis; (2) to determine if activity level changed over time from initial reconstruction or (3) was predicted from sports activity level before diagnosis; and (4) if complications that occurred affected sports or contributed to prosthetic failures. METHODS: Between 1995 and 2005, we treated 120 patients for osteosarcoma about the knee with resection and modular endoprosthetic reconstruction; of those, 25 (21%) have died, six (5%) had an amputation, 39 (32%) did not speak German and so were ineligible, and 14 (12%) were either lost to followup or refused to participate, leaving 27 patients (14 females, 13 males; median age 19 years [range, 12-60 years); average followup 11 ± 4 years) (54% of the living, German-speaking cohort) for this analysis. Tumors were located in the distal femur (n = 16) and the proximal tibia (n = 11). Sports participation as well as the UCLA Activity Score and the modified Weighted Activity Score were assessed retrospectively. Moreover, postoperative complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Before the diagnosis of osteosarcoma and 1, 3, and 5 years and at the latest followup, respectively, after their reconstructions, 24 (89%), nine (33%), 20 (74%), and 24 patients (89%) were able to perform sports activities. There was a reduction in high-impact activities. Those patients with followup longer than 5 years had no changes in sports activity at their latest followup. Patients who had higher levels of sports activity levels before surgery generally had higher levels of activity at last followup (UCLA Activity Score: r = 0.62, p < 0.0005; modified Weighted Activity Score r = 0.49, p < 0.01). Fourteen patients (51%) underwent revision surgery. With the numbers available, complications had no effect on sports activity. No sports activity-related complications were found. CONCLUSIONS: Some long-term survivors of osteosarcoma can achieve high levels of sports activity. Preoperative activity levels seem to influence the postoperative activity levels. This information is important to give realistic expectations for long-term survivors of osteosarcoma of the knee. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Tumour response of osteosarcoma to neoadjuvant chemotherapy evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging as prognostic factor for outcome.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the feasibility of computed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetry in conventional osteosarcomas. Secondly, we investigated whether computed volumetry provides new prognostic indicators for histological response of osteosarcomas after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, data from the Vienna Bone Tumour Registry was used. MR images from 14 patients (male:female = 1.8, mean age 19 years) were analysed prior to and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy according to current therapy regimens. Histological response to chemotherapy was graded according to the Salzer-Kuntschik classification. Computed volumetry was performed for the intraosseous part, as well as the soft-tissue component and the tumour as a whole. RESULTS: In a setting of appropriate radiological equipment, the method has been considered to be well implementable into clinical routine. The mean tumour volume prior to chemotherapy was 321 (±351) ml. In good responders (n = 6), overall tumour volume decreased by 47% (p = 0.345), whereas poor responders (n = 8) showed a 19% decrease (p = 0.128). Neoadjuvant multidrug therapy remarkably changed the tumour composition. This is seen in a decrease of the mean ratio of soft-tissue to intraosseous tumour volume from 8.67 in poor responders and 1.15 in good responders to 1.26 and 0.45 (p = 0.065), respectively. Interestingly, the bony compartment of good responders showed a volume increase during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.073). However, we did not find prognostic markers for histological tumour response to pre-operative chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Separated volumetry of tumour segments revealed interesting insights into therapy-induced growth patterns. If verified in a larger study population, these results should be taken into account when planning ablative surgery.

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma: prognostic factors and outcome in 113 patients. A European Musculoskeletal Oncology Society study.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MCS) is a distinct, very rare sarcoma with little evidence supporting treatment recommendations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Specialist centres collaborated to report prognostic factors and outcome for 113 patients. RESULTS: Median age was 30 years (range: 11-80), male/female ratio 1.1. Primary sites were extremities (40%), trunk (47%) and head and neck (13%), 41 arising primarily in soft tissue. Seventeen patients had metastases at diagnosis. Mean follow-up was 14.9 years (range: 1-34), median overall survival (OS) 17 years (95% confidence interval (CI): 10.3-28.6). Ninety-five of 96 patients with localised disease underwent surgery, 54 additionally received combination chemotherapy. Sixty-five of 95 patients are alive and 45 progression-free (5 local recurrence, 34 distant metastases, 11 combined). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were 7 (95% CI: 3.03-10.96) and 20 (95% CI: 12.63-27.36) years respectively. Chemotherapy administration in patients with localised disease was associated with reduced risk of recurrence (P=0.046; hazard ratio (HR)=0.482 95% CI: 0.213-0.996) and death (P=0.004; HR=0.445 95% CI: 0.256-0.774). Clear resection margins predicted less frequent local recurrence (2% versus 27%; P=0.002). Primary site and origin did not influence survival. The absence of metastases at diagnosis was associated with a significantly better outcome (P<0.0001). Data on radiotherapy indications, dose and fractionation were insufficiently complete, to allow comment of its impact on outcomes. Median OS for patients with metastases at presentation was 3 years (95% CI: 0-4.25). CONCLUSIONS: Prognosis in MCS varies considerably. Metastatic disease at diagnosis has the strongest impact on survival. Complete resection and adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered as standard of care for localised disease.