[Treatment strategies for spinal metastases]. / Behandlungsstrategien bei Wirbelsäulenmetastasen.

Spinal metastases occur in 10 % of all carcinoma patients in the course of their oncologic disease. Spinal metastasis is a manifestation of a systemic oncologic disease. The treatment of the metastasis does not influence the overall oncological outcome. Treatment decision is depending from the primary tumor, presence of neurological symptoms, stability of the spine, extent of visceral and osseous dissemination, general state of the patient and his life expectancy. Therapy should focus on the patient's needs and be correlated with the expectations and prognosis of the patient. There exist a number of valid prognostic scores to support and objectify the decision. There has been a change of paradigmata with regard to surgical treatment, supported by an improvement in oncosurgical and anesthesiological fields. Surgery is indicated in case of instability or neurological compromise, in respect of the general state and life expectancy and can be performed from a ventral, dorsal or combined approach. Alternative or complimentary treatment methods are radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery and additive therapies like sequential embolization, antiresorptive medication or corticoid therapy. Therapy should be established by a multidisciplinary tumor board. Main issue for treatment decisions is palliation and optimizing the patient's quality of life.

Metastatic bone disease: a 36-year single centre trend-analysis of patients admitted to a tertiary orthopaedic surgical department.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The treatment and outcome of primary malignant bone tumours has changed with the advances in diagnostic and treatment modalities. A trend-analysis on a large cohort of patients with metastatic bone disease was performed. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all cases with metastatic bone disease admitted to a single tertiary orthopaedic referral centre, registered with the Vienna Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Registry between 1968 and 2003 was conducted. For trend-analysis of frequency, survival, primary site, treatment methods, and others, the 36-year study duration was divided into four periods. RESULTS: The study identified 601 females and 580 males (mean: 60 years) with metastatic bone disease. The most common metastases were secondary to breast cancer (n = 275; 23%) and renal cell carcinoma (n = 242; 21%) and the majority were located in the femur (n = 332; 28%) and spine (n = 348; 29%). Overall, the proportion of patients who underwent surgery decreased. At follow-up, 887 (75%) patients were verified to have died of their disease. CONCLUSIONS: Over the 36-year period, the frequency of bone metastases has increased at our centre. Although survival increased over time, the difference was not significant; this was most likely attributable to the seriousness of cases referred to our tertiary care centre.

[Minimal invasive stabilization of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Methods and preinterventional diagnostics]. / Minimal-invasive Stabilisierung osteoporotischer Wirbelkörpereinbrüche. Methodik und präinterventionelle Diagnostik.

PURPOSE: Minimal invasive stabilizations represent a new alternative for the treatment of osteoporotic compression fractures. Vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty are two methods to enhance the strength of osteoporotic vertebral bodies by the means of cement application. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Vertebroplasty is the older and technically easier method. The balloon kyphoplasty is the newer and more expensive method which does not only improve pain but also restores the sagittal profile of the spine. RESULTS: By balloon kyphoplasty the height of 101 fractured vertebral bodies could be increased up to 90% and the wedge decreased from 12 to 7 degrees. Pain was reduced from 7.2 to 2.5 points. The Oswestry disability index decreased from 60 to 26 points. This effect persisted over a period of two years. Cement leakage occurred in only 2% of vertebral bodies. Fractures of adjacent vertebral bodies were found in 11%. CONCLUSION: Good preinterventional diagnostics and intraoperative imaging are necessary to make the balloon kyphoplasty a successful application.

Changes in bone mineral density in the proximal femur after cementless total hip arthroplasty. A five-year longitudinal study.

We investigated prospectively the bone mineral density (BMD) of the proximal femur after implantation of a tapered rectangular cementless stem in 100 patients with a mean age of 60 years (16 to 87). It was determined using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, performed one week after surgery and then every six months until the end-point of five years. The BMD increased significantly in Gruen zones 2, 4 and 5 by 11%, 3% and 11% respectively, and decreased significantly in Gruen zones 1, 6 and 7 by 3%, 6% and 14% respectively, over the five-year period. The net mean BMD did not change over this time period. The changes in the BMD were not confined to the first 12 months after surgery. This investigation revealed no change in the overall periprosthetic BMD, but demonstrated a regional redistribution of bone mass from the proximal to distal zones.

[Surgical therapy of pelvis and spine in primary malignant bone tumors]. / Operative Therapie am Becken und an der Wirbelsäule bei primär malignen Knochentumoren.

Despite standardization of surgical treatment of primary malignant tumors of the pelvis and spine, prognosis in these centrally located tumors still is inferior compared to those located in the extremities. This fact may be attributed to delayed diagnosis in many cases and the resulting increase in tumor volume as well as to difficulties of resection due to the anatomical situation. The frequency of local recurrence after resection of primary malignant tumors is reported to be between 4 and 41% and the 5-year survival rate below 40%. Whereas the latter has remained almost unchanged during the past 20 years, amputation has been replaced by limb-salvage surgery except for a minimal amount of less than 10%. For reconstruction, biological techniques are increasingly preferred to endoprosthetic replacement or use of bulk allografts because of the high complication rate. Even in the spine wide resections are feasible provided at least one lamina is healthy in order to prepare and save the neural structures without touching the tumor. Compared to the widely used technique of curettage, en bloc resection may provide a significantly better oncologic result with respect to local tumor control. Failure of the dorsoventral stabilization with delayed union is the most frequent complication of these challenging procedures. In order to improve the long-term prognosis of these groups of patients in the future, early diagnosis and immediate admission to a specialized tumor service has to be attempted.

[Endoprosthesis management of the extremities of children after resection of primary malignant bone tumors]. / Die endoprothetische Versorgung an den Extremitäten bei Kindern nach Resektion primär maligner Knochentumoren.

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the treatment of primary malignant bone tumors. The surgeon is confronted with increasing demand for limb-sparing surgery by patients and parents alike. In the skeletally immature, resection of the growing physis will ultimately result in leg length discrepancies and functional impairment. An adequate reconstruction therefore calls for the compensation of the expected growth deficit to achieve symmetry and an optimized function of the extremity. Between 1975 and 2000, 55 patients (24 female, 31 male) were referred and treated at our institution. All patients were not older than 10 years (4.2-10, mean: 7.9 years). Histological diagnosis was Ewing's tumors ( n=19) and osteosarcoma ( n=36). Localization in the extremities was predominantly in the lower extremity with 63.6% around the knee joint (distal femur and proximal tibia). Surgical treatment was performed in all patients. Endoprosthetic reconstruction was performed in 34 patients (lower extremity n=30, 29 Howmedica Modular Reconstruction System, HMRS, 1 Pafford prosthesis; upper extremity n=4, 4 HMRS); in another case of humeral tumor involvement a resection replantation procedure was carried out. The other patients received a rotationplasty ( n=7), a biologic reconstruction ( n=6), resection replantation of the humerus ( n=1), no reconstruction ( n=3), or had to be amputated ( n=4). After a mean follow-up of 114 months (24-256 months) 11 patients had died. Even in young children endoprosthetic reconstruction with relatively early mobilization and high quality of life can be a very successful method for limb salvage. Optimal reconstructive results following resection of primary malignant bone tumors in children are reached when indications and limitations of each method are carefully considered on an individual basis taking into account the patients' expectations.

[Minimally invasive therapy of painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures]. / Minimal-invasive Therapie osteoporotischer Wirbelkörperfrakturen.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease. Due to an increase of the older population an higher impact of osteoporosis and its treatment can be expected. BACKGROUND: Painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures result in an increased morbidity and mortality. Standard treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures comprises analgetics, bed rest and, if needed, orthotics. METHOD: By mere augmentation of the vertebra with polymethylmet acrylate (PMMA), the so called "vertebroplasty" a good pain reduction and increase in function and quality of life can be achieved. With the technique of kyphoplasty (Kyphon) it is feasible to correct a kyphotic deformity. Inflatable balloons are introduced to the vertebra to lift the endplates. The created cavity is filled with bone cement (PMMA). DISCUSSION: Kyphoplasty is able to correct osteoporosis induced kyphotic deformity. Compared to the technique of vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty is less risky but is more time consuming and more expensive. Time will show whether the expected advantage of deformity correction will result in a better outcome for the patient, e. g. in a lower incidence of refractures.

Dura resection in combination with en bloc spondylectomy for primary malignant tumors of the spine.

STUDY DESIGN: Resection of a primary malignant tumor of the bone with wide surgical margins has become the golden standard in oncological surgery. In the case of a spinal tumor with tumor invasion of the spinal canal, a wide resection could necessitate resection and subsequent replacement of part of the dura. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Dura replacement is a consequent surgical step in the treatment of primary malignant tumors of the spine. METHODS: We present the case of a 27-year-old male with a tumor of the dorsal elements of D6. After paraplegic symptoms, a laminectomy of D5 to D7 was performed and histologic examination revealed the presence of an osteosarcoma. After neoadjuvant polychemotherapy, a wide resection of the dorsal elements from D4 to D7 combined with a resection of the dorsal part of the dura was planned. Replacement of the dura was performed with Lyodura (B. Braun Melsungen AG, Melsungen, Germany). The spine was stabilized with an ISOLA instrumentation (Depuy International Ltd., Leeds, England). For wound closure, a pedicled latissimus dorsi flap and split skin graft were necessary. In a second step, ventral spondylodesis with Texas Scottish Rite Hospital instrumentation (Sofamor Danek, Memphis, TN) was performed. RESULTS: One hundred sixteen months after surgery the patient is alive without evidence of disease, is pain free, and has returned to his profession and life without any restrictions.

Bone mineral density in long-term survivors of highly malignant osteosarcoma.

We studied the bone mineral density (BMD) of 48 long-term survivors of highly malignant osteosarcoma who had been treated according to the chemotherapy protocols of the German- Swiss-Austrian Co-operative Osteosarcoma Study Group which include high-dose methotrexate. The mean age of the patients was 31 +/- 4.2 years and the mean follow-up 16 +/- 2.2 years. The BMD of the lumbar spine and of the proximal femur of the non-operated side was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. A questionnaire was given to determine life-style factors, medical history and medication. Ten patients were osteoporotic, 21 osteopenic and 17 normal according to the WHO definition. Eighteen patients suffered fractures after receiving chemotherapy and all had significantly lower levels of BMD for all the sites measured.

Total vertebrectomy for primary malignant tumours of the spine.

Primary malignant tumours should be resected with wide margins. This may be difficult to apply to lesions of the spine. We undertook total vertebrectomy on seven patients, four males and three females with a mean age at operation of 26.5 years (6.3 to 45.8). The mean follow-up was 52.3 months. Histological examination revealed a Ewing's sarcoma in two patients and osteosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, spindle-cell sarcoma, chondrosarcoma and malignant schwannoma in one each. In five patients, histological examination showed that a wide resection had been achieved. At follow-up there was no infection and a permanent neurological deficit was only seen in those patients in whom the surgical procedure had required resection of nerve roots. Despite the high demands placed on the surgeon and anaesthetist and the length of postoperative care we consider total vertebrectomy to be an appropriate procedure for the operative treatment of primary malignant lesions of the spine.

Revision of the Kotz type of tumour endoprosthesis for the lower limb.

In 251 patients over a period of 15 years an uncemented Kotz modular femoral and tibial reconstruction mega prosthesis was implanted after resection of a malignant tumour of the lower limb. Twenty-one patients (8.4%) underwent revision for aseptic loosening, again using an uncemented prosthesis, and five of these required a further revision procedure. The median follow-up time from the first revision was 60 months (11 to 168) and after a second revision, 33 months (2 to 50). The probability of a patient avoiding aseptic loosening for ten years was 96% for a proximal femoral, 76% for a distal femoral and 85% for a proximal tibial implant. At the time of follow-up all radiographs were assessed according to the International Symposium of Limb Salvage criteria. The first radiological signs of aseptic loosening were always seen at the most proximal or distal part of the anchorage stem at a mean of 12 months (4 to 23) after the first implantation. Using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score for evaluation, the clinical results showed a mean of 88% of normal function.

The role of surgery and resection margins in the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma.

Because of the enormous progress in surgery in the treatment of patients with tumors, the current study analyzed the influence of wide surgical resection margins on the outcome of patients with Ewing's sarcoma. Between 1980 and 1994, 86 patients were treated with systemic therapy and surgery (biopsy in six patients, tumor resection in 80 patients). Forty-four patients also had radiation therapy. The 5-year overall survival was 56.8% (5-year disease-free survival, 59.4%). The 5-year overall survival after radical or wide resection was 60.2% (5-year disease-free survival, 58.2%), in comparison with 40.1% (46.7%) after marginal or intralesional resection. Two patients with inadequate resection margins had local recurrences. In addition to the influence of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for higher survival rates (5-year overall survival with a good response was 80.2% versus 41.7% with a poor response), adequate surgical margins significantly affect the outcome for patients with Ewing's sarcoma.

Growth prediction in extendable tumor prostheses in children.

Limb salvage procedures for malignant bone tumors of the lower limb in children usualy involve resection of at least one growing physis. To achieve equal leg length, reconstruction relies on accurate prediction of the remaining growth potential of the child. The current authors present the results of predicted growth versus actual prosthetic elongation observed in a group of 15 children fitted with extendable tumor endoprostheses of the lower limb who subsequently have reached skeletal maturity. All patients had at least one of the distal femoral or proximal tibial physes resected for a primary malignant bone tumor. Eight patients underwent distal femoral resection, four patients underwent proximal tibial resection, and three patients had total resection of the femur. All patients received custom-made Howmedica extendable prostheses. In two patients, a newly developed automatic elongation module was used. At followup, between 70 and 158 months, the patients achieved a mean elongation of the surgically treated limb of 10.4 cm (range, 1.1-19.5 cm), which exceeded the predicted growth by 24.3%. Final leg length discrepancies did not exceed 1 cm. Using incremental extendable tumor endoprostheses, individual adaptation of the elongation procedures could be achieved for equalization of leg length discrepancies in children after resection of primary malignant bone tumors of the lower limb.

[Diagnostic-therapeutic procedure in benign bone tumors]. / Diagnostisch-therapeutisches Vorgehen bei gutartigen Knochentumoren.

The indications of surgical treatment of benign bone tumours are strongly related to the clinical behaviour, the patient's complaints and the activity in Tc-bone scan. Some lesions--like the nonossifying fibroma--that can safely be diagnosed by conventional x-rays may not be treated surgically--as long as the patients are free of pain, and there is no risk of pathologic fracture. In case of clinically relevant lesions, activity in Tc-bone scan, or a risk of fracture, biopsy and curettage combined with autologous or homologous bone grafting is indicated. Some aggressive tumors, like the giant cell tumor, have to be treated more aggressively by curettage with adjuvant measures (Phenole) or by marginal excision.

A long-term review of the treatment of patients with Ewing's sarcoma in one institution.

AIMS: The treatment of patients suffering from Ewing's sarcoma has changed over the last three decades. We report the analyses, significant prognostic factors, interdisciplinary approach and development of therapy in one institution in Austria. METHODS: One hundred and forty-two patients treated for Ewing's sarcoma between 1949 and 1994 were reviewed. Median follow-up was 8.5 years. Fifty-six patients were treated between 1949 and 1980 (group 1), and 86 patients between 1981 and 1994 (group 2). Patients in group 1 were treated with polychemotherapy. Patients in group 2 were treated with a neoadjuvant CESS (Cooperative Ewing's Sarcoma Study) regimen. In group 1, 24 patients underwent biopsy only, 32 patients had a definitive operation, 48 patients received either radiation therapy only or additional radiation therapy compared with in group 2: 6, 80 and 44 cases, respectively. RESULTS: Five-year overall survival (OS) increased from 27% to 57%. Significant prognostic factors for OS were pre-operative metastases (P=0.0001), tumour location (P=0.0048), type of chemotherapy (P=0.002) and response to chemotherapy (P=0.0004). Chemotherapy (P=0.037), tumour location (P=0.0017) and metastases at diagnosis (P=0.0025) were significant. CONCLUSION: The most effective treatment of Ewing's sarcoma is chemotherapy.

Long-term followup of uncemented tumor endoprostheses for the lower extremity.

Between 1982 and 1989, 100 primary lower limb reconstructions were done using the Kotz Modular Femur Tibia Reconstruction System after resection of a malignant tumor. In 32 patients a proximal femur prosthesis was implanted, in 40 patients a distal femur prosthesis was implanted, in 19 patients a proximal tibia component was implanted, in four patients a total femur prosthesis was implanted, and in five patients a total knee prosthesis was implanted. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the overall survival rate of the prostheses was 85% after 3 years, 79% after 5 years, and 71% after 10 years. The most common reason for implant failure was aseptic loosening in 27% of patients (11 patients; range, 10-121 months) after the initial operation. The other reasons for revision surgery were implant fracture (n 5 4) and infection (n 5 4). Early repair of prostheses-related minor complications, such as worn polyethylene bushings, resulted in a statistically significant reduction of implant failure. After a median followup of 127.5 months after the initial surgery, 51 patients had died and eight patients were lost to followup. Forty-one patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score and the radiologic implant evaluation system of the International Symposium on Limb Salvage; these 41 patients had a mean of 80% (range, 40%-100%) of the normal functional capability.

Melatonin and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Scoliosis seen in the chicken after pinealectomy resembles adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in man. It has been suggested that in both species, deficiency of the pineal hormone, melatonin, is responsible for this phenomenon. In nine patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and in ten age- and gender-matched controls, the circadian levels of serum melatonin and the excretion of urinary 6-hydroxy-melatonin-sulphate, the principal metabolite of melatonin, were determined. There were no statistically significant differences in the secretion of serum melatonin or the excretion of urinary 6-hydroxy-melatonin-sulphate between the patients and the control group. The hypothesis of melatonin deficiency as a causative factor in the aetiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis cannot be supported by our data.

[Surgical therapy of spinal metastases]. / Operative Therapie von Wirbelsäulenmetastasen.

Bone metastases of the vertebral spine occur frequently after breast cancer, hypernephroma or thyroid carcinoma. Located commonly in the lumbar and thoracic spine, half of the lesions are found in the vertebral body, but in many cases lamina and pedicles are also involved. Pain resistant to conservative treatment, vertebral compression fracture and segmental instability, together with progredient neurologic deficits and para- or tetraplegia, all make operative intervention mandatory. In this article dorsal decompression and stabilization are compared to ventral decompression and compound osteosynthesis. Segmental stability and life-time prognosis of the patient are important factors to decide on the best surgical procedure. Dorsal decompression without stabilization should only be performed as a palliative procedure in patients with an inoperative tumor, poor prognosis, or if the estimated postoperative segmental stability seems to be sufficient. In cases of a solitary metastasis, after radical resection of the primary tumor and when the prognosis is good total vertebrectomy can be performed. In addition to surgical treatment, adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy should be performed in a multidisciplinary setting.

[Total spondylectomy in metastasizing osteosarcoma of the spine--case report]. / Totale Spondylektomie bei metastasierendem Osteosarkom der Wirbelsäule--ein Fallbericht.

We report on a case of a 28 year old male patient, on whom in 1984 a rotation plasty was performed, due to an osteogenic sarcoma of the left distal femur. Eight years after the incidence of the primary tumor, a metastasis of the osteogenic sarcoma in the twelfth thoracic vertebra occurred. The tumor extended from the vertebral body to one pedicle and did not pass over the bony limits. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy an total spondylectomy was performed. Due to this method wide surgical margins could be achieved. Up to now these margins could only be executed with malignant bone tumors located in the extremities, whereas they could not be realized with the methods of spondylectomy, that were already introduced. By this case we want to present an innovative operation method for the treatment of primary malignant tumors or solitary metastasis of the spine, with the help of which we could give these patients a promising life expectancy.