Total hip reconstruction after sarcoma resection in children with a free vascularized fibula without osteotomy of the bone flap: Technique description and case series.

BACKGROUND: Hip joint reconstruction following intra-articular resection of the femoral head in children is a highly demanding challenge. We aimed to describe the outcomes of hip reconstruction in paediatric patients with a free fibular epiphyso-diaphyseal flap based on both anterior tibial and peroneal vessels within a radius allograft. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four patients underwent hip reconstruction following this technique between 2013 and 2020 at La Paz University Hospital (Madrid, Spain). The postoperative follow-up period ranged between 12 months and seven years. Two of the patients were diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma and two with osteosarcoma. The median age at the time of surgery was eight years (six to nine). RESULTS: Three patients remained to be disease-free at the time of this study, and one died shortly after surgery, so he was excluded from the reconstruction analysis of results. No postoperative complications requiring reintervention were recorded. Imaging studies (X-ray and MRI) showed three-dimensional growth of the flap and integration of the allograft. Mean leg length discrepancy was 1.3 cm (0 to 2.3). At the last follow-up visit, all patients were able to ambulate. CONCLUSION: For children following oncological resection of the femoral head, reconstruction with a vascularized epiphyso-diaphyseal fibula flap combined with radius allograft is a safe option. This procedure provides encouraging functional results and avoids the complications of previously published techniques or implants.

Outcomes with respect to disabilities of the upper limb after hand allograft transplantation: a systematic review.

The aim of this work is to compare disabilities of the upper limb before and after hand allograft transplantation (HAT), and to describe the side effects of immunosuppressive (IS) agents given to recipients of hand allografts. Clinical cases of HAT published between 1999 and 2011 in English, French, or German were reviewed systematically, with emphasis on comparing disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) scores before and after transplantation. Duration of ischemia, extent of amputation, and time since amputation were evaluated for their effect on intrinsic musculature function. Infectious, metabolic, and oncological complications because of IS therapy were recorded. Twenty-eight patients were reported in 56 clinical manuscripts. Among these patients, disabilities of the upper limb dropped by a mean of 27.6 (±19.04) points on the DASH score after HAT (P = 0.005). Lower DASH scores (P = 0.036) were recorded after secondary surgery on hand allografts. The presence of intrinsic muscle function was observed in 57% of the recipients. Duration of ischemia, extent of transplantation, and time since amputation were not associated statistically with the return of intrinsic musculature function. Three grafts were lost to follow-up because of noncompliance with immunosuppression, rejection, and arterial thrombosis, respectively. Fifty-two complications caused by IS agents were reported, and they were successfully managed medically or surgically. HAT recipients showed notable functional gains, but most complications resulted from the IS protocols.