Wide Resection for Pediatric Extremity Vascular Malformation-A Tertiary Hospital's Experience.

BACKGROUND: Vascular malformations of the extremities (VM) are common benign lesions that tend to grow throughout the patient's lifetime. They can cause various issues like pain, swelling, and even limb length discrepancies. Sclerotherapy was the preferred treatment choice in previous studies. However, sclerotherapy and many other treatments have the potential to result in higher recurrence rates. Surgical treatment has been shown to be effective and safe in many cases. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the suitability of wide resection surgery for VM to reduce recurrence. METHODS: Fort-seven VM cases that underwent wide resection were identified retrospectively in the institution of study. Demographics, depth of malformation, whether malformations were local or diffuse, location and size of malformations, and histology records were taken note of. Records of recurrence and postoperative function were also gathered. We utilized self-reported questionnaires, QuickDASH and Lower Extremity Functional Scale, to determine patients' postsurgical physical function. RESULTS: Out of 47 cases that underwent wide resection, we found a recurrence rate of 2.1%. No patients sustained any loss of function postsurgery, with few patients experiencing minor complications like tenderness, hypertrophic scars/keloids, as well as numbness. Good functionality posttreatment was also seen through self-reported questionnaires, with an average score of 2.12 for QuickDASH and 99.96% for LEFS. CONCLUSION: Where margins can be obtained without functional impairment, surgical-wide resection for VM is a viable treatment option to minimize recurrence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level-IV.

Non-prosthetic peri-implant fractures: classification, management and outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Non-prosthetic peri-implant fractures (NPPIFs) are an under-reported entity. Management is challenging because of alterations in anatomy, the presence of orthopaedic implants and phenomena such as stress shielding, disuse osteopenia and fracture remodeling. The aims of this paper were to review patterns of injury, management and outcomes and to propose a classification system to aid further research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a multi-centered retrospective case series. Patients were identified from the orthopaedic department trauma databases of public hospitals in Singapore and individual surgeon case series of members of the Singapore Orthopaedic Research Collaborative (SORCE) group. RESULTS: We collected a series of 60 NPPIFs in 53 patients. 38 fractures involved the femur, 12 the radius/ulna, 5 humeri, 3 tibia/fibula and 1 clavicle. 39 patients had fractures around plates and screws, 12 around nails, and 3 around screws. Fractures were managed with a variety of surgical techniques. Six patients had surgical complications with refracture in four and non-union in two cases. Two patients had multiple refractures (total 12 additional fractures). All surgical complications required further surgery. Three patients had deep vein thrombosis and one patient died of post-operative pneumonia. Fractures were classified according to the initial implant (plate or nail), the position of the new fracture relative to the original implant (at the tip or distant) and the status of the original fracture (healed, not healed or failing). Surgical strategies for common subtypes were reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the largest series in the literature. NPPIFs are a challenging clinical problem with a high rate of post-operative complications. They are distinct from peri-prosthetic fractures and should be understood as a separate entity. We, therefore, propose a novel classification system. Further research is needed to determine the optimal treatment for the various subtypes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV-case series.

Local Treatment of Desmoid Tumors: An Update.

Desmoid tumors (DTs) are rare fibroblastic proliferations, characterized by infiltrative growth and a propensity for local recurrence. Traditional strategies such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are the mainstays of treatment, each with its limitations and associated risks. The trend in DT management leans toward a "wait-and-see" strategy, emphasizing active surveillance supported by continuous MRI monitoring. This approach acknowledges the unpredictable nature of the disease, and a multidisciplinary management of DT requires a nuanced approach, integrating traditional therapies with emerging interventional techniques. This review highlights the emerging role of minimally invasive interventional radiological technologies and discusses interventional radiology techniques, including chemical, radiofrequency, microwave, cryoablation, and high-intensity focused ultrasound ablations as well as transarterial embolization.

A case of raised CA 19-9 in a patient with desmoplastic fibroblastoma of the upper limb.

Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is a tumor marker widely accepted as the most useful blood test in diagnosing and monitoring pancreatic cancer. However, CA 19-9 may also be raised in other conditions such as colorectal, hepatic, lung, and ovarian carcinoma as well as benign conditions such as hepatobiliary and pulmonary diseases. CA 19-9 is rarely elevated above 200 U/ml in benign conditions with values exceeding 1000 U/ml being highly suggestive of malignancy. The mechanism of secretion in both malignant and benign conditions remains unclear. Desmoplastic fibroblastoma (DF) is a benign soft tissue tumor. CA 19-9 has not been reported in association with DF previously. We present a case of raised serum CA 19-9 in a 71-year-old male attributed solely to DF in his left cubital fossa. The patient's CA 19-9 level rose from 56 U/ml at the time of presentation to 3763.8 U/ml over a period of 9 months. Post-DF excision, the CA 19-9 level decreased to 1464 U/ml at 1 month, 162.3 U/ml at 2.5 months, and 24U/ml, within normal range, at 7 months post-surgery. CA 19-9 levels continued to remain at 24 U/ml 1.5 years post-tumor excision. The CA 19-9 level in this patient was highly elevated which is unusual in association with a benign tumor. The rate of decrease in CA 19-9 level post-excision was in keeping with that reported after pancreatic cancer resections. This is the first case of DF in association with raised CA 19-9.

Life or limb: an international qualitative study on decision making in sarcoma surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented as a global crisis over the last century. How do specialist surgeons make decisions about patient care in these unprecedent times? DESIGN: Between April and May 2020, we conducted an international qualitative study. Sarcoma surgeons from diverse global settings participated in 60 min interviews exploring surgical decision making during COVID-19. Interview data were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. SETTING: Participants represented public and private hospitals in 14 countries, in different phases of the first wave of the pandemic: Australia, Argentina, Canada, India, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, UK and USA. PARTICIPANTS: From 22 invited sarcoma surgeons, 18 surgeons participated. Participants had an average of 19 years experience as a sarcoma surgeon. RESULTS: 17/18 participants described a decision they had made about patient care since the start of the pandemic that was unique to them, that is, without precedence. Common to 'unique' decisions about patient care was uncertainty about what was going on and what would happen in the future (theme 1: the context of uncertainty), the impact of the pandemic on resources or threat of the pandemic to overwhelm resources (theme 2: limited resources), perceived increased risk to self (theme 3: duty of care) and least-worst decision making, in which none of the options were perceived as ideal and participants settled on the least-worst option at that point in time (theme 4: least-worst decision making). CONCLUSIONS: In the context of rapidly changing standards of justice and beneficence in patient care, traditional decision-making frameworks may no longer apply. Based on the experiences of surgeons in this study, we describe a framework of least-worst decision making. This framework gives rise to actionable strategies that can support decision making in sarcoma and other specialised fields of surgery, both during the current crisis and beyond.

Clinical Features of High-Grade Extremity and Trunk Sarcomas in Patients Aged 80 Years and Older: Why Are Outcomes Inferior?

Background: The population of many countries is aging and a significant number of elderly patients with soft-tissue sarcoma are being seen at cancer centers. The unique therapeutic and prognostic implications of treating soft-tissue sarcoma in geriatric patients warrant further consideration in order to optimize outcomes. Patients and Methods: This is a single-institution retrospective study of consecutive non-metastatic primary extremity and trunk high-grade sarcomas surgically treated between 1996 and 2012, with at least 2 years of follow-up for survivors. Patient characteristics and oncological outcomes were compared between age groups (≥80 vs. <80 years), using Chi-square or Fisher-exact test and Log-Rank or Wilcoxon test, respectively. Deaths from other causes were censored for disease-specific survival estimation. A p< 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: A total of 333 cases were eligible for this study. Thirty-six patients (11%) were aged ≥80 years. Unplanned surgery incidence and surgical margin status were comparable between the age groups. Five-year local-recurrence-free, metastasis-free and disease-specific survivals were 72% (≥80 years) vs. 90% (<80 years) (p = 0.004), 59 vs. 70% (p = 0.07) and 55 vs. 80% (p < 0.001), respectively. A significantly earlier first metastasis after surgery (8.3 months vs. 20.5 months, mean) and poorer survival after first metastasis (p = 0.03) were observed. Cox analysis revealed "age ≥80 years" as an independent risk factor for local failure and disease-specific mortality, with hazard ratios of 2.41 (95% CI: 1.09-5.32) and 2.52 (1.33-4.13), respectively. A competing risks analysis also showed that "age ≥80 years" was significantly associated with the disease-specific mortality. Conclusions: Oncological outcomes were significantly worse in high-grade sarcoma patients aged ≥80 years. The findings of more frequent local failure regardless of a consistent primary treatment strategy, an earlier time to first metastasis after surgery, and poorer prognosis after first metastasis suggest that more aggressive tumor biology, in addition to multiple co-morbidity, may explain the inferiority.

Preoperative Radiotherapy and Wide Resection for Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Achieving a Low Rate of Major Wound Complications with the Use of Flaps. Results of a Single Surgical Team.

BACKGROUND: Surgery in combination with radiotherapy (RT) has become the standard of care for most soft tissue sarcomas. The choice between pre- and postoperative RT is controversial. Preoperative RT is associated with a 32-35% rate of major wound complications (MWC) and 16-25% rate of reoperation. The role of vascularized soft tissue "flaps" in reducing complications is unclear. We report the outcomes of patients treated with preoperative RT, resection, and flap reconstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 122 treatment episodes involving 117 patients were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were treated with 50.4 Gy of external beam radiation. Surgery was performed at 4-8 weeks after completion of RT by the same combination of orthopedic oncology and plastic reconstructive surgeon. Defects were reconstructed with 64 free and 59 pedicled/local flaps. RESULTS: 30 (25%) patients experienced a MWC and 17 (14%) required further surgery. 20% of complications were exclusively related to the donor site. There was complete or partial loss of three flaps. There was no difference in the rate of MWC or reoperation for complications with respect to age, sex, tumor site, previous unplanned excision, tumor grade, depth, and type of flap. Tumor size ≥8 cm was associated with a higher rate of reoperation (11/44 vs 6/78; P = 0.008) but the rate of MWC was not significant (16/44 vs 14/78; P = 0.066). CONCLUSION: The use of soft tissue flaps is associated with a low rate of MWC and reoperation. Our results suggest that a high rate of flap usage may be required to observe a reduction in complication rates.

Extracorporeal Irradiation and Reimplantation with Total Hip Arthroplasty for Periacetabular Pelvic Resections: A Review of 9 Cases.

We report the early results of nine patients with periacetabular malignancies treated with Enneking and Dunham type 2 resection and reconstruction using extracorporeally irradiated (ECI) tumour bone combined with total hip arthroplasty (THA). Diagnosis was chondrosarcoma in six patients, osteosarcoma in two patients, and metastatic renal cell carcinoma in one patient. All patients underwent surgical resection and the resected specimen was irradiated with 50 Gy in a single fraction before being prepared for reimplantation as a composite autograft. The mean follow-up was 21 months (range, 3-59). All patients were alive at latest follow-up. No local recurrence was observed. One patient serially developed three pulmonary metastases, all of which were resected. One experienced hip dislocation due to incorrect seating of an acetabular liner. This was successfully treated with revision of the liner with no further episodes of instability. There were no cases of deep infection or loss of graft. The average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score was 75% (range, 57-87%). Type 2 pelvic reconstruction with ECI and THA has shown excellent early oncological and functional results in our series. Preservation of the gluteus maximus and hip abductors is important for joint stability and prevention of infection.

Extensive open drainage for suppurative flexor tenosynovitis involving five digits: a case report.

An unusual case of suppurative tenosynovitis involving all five digits up to distal forearm in a 20-year-old male with no known risk factors is reported. We highlight the strategy of extensile skin incisions from the wrist to all five digits that allowed flexor sheath debridement, synovectomy, and infection resolution without causing skin flap ischemia. At three months, total active motion of 70% of contralateral hand was achieved.

Exposed versus buried wires for fixation of lateral humeral condyle fractures in children: a comparison of safety and efficacy.

INTRODUCTION: Displaced fractures of the lateral condyle of the humerus are usually treated with open reduction and fixation with smooth Kirschner wires. These may be passed through the skin and left exposed or buried subcutaneously. Exposed wires may be removed in the outpatient clinic, whereas buried wires require a formal procedure under anaesthesia. This advantage may be offset if there is a higher rate of complications with exposed wires. The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of exposed and buried wires. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Children with lateral condyle fractures of the humerus who had undergone surgery were identified from our departmental database. Case records and X-rays of 75 patients were reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-two patients had buried wires and 33 had exposed wires. There were no serious complications in either group. In the exposed wires group, 1 patient had a superficial wound infection that was treated effectively with 1 week of oral antibiotics, while 2 patients had hypergranulation of pin tracts treated with topical silver nitrate. None of the patients showed loss of reduction, deep infection, or any other complications requiring additional procedures. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of complications between the buried and exposed groups. We conclude that open reduction and exposed wiring is a safe and effective option for lateral condyle fractures, and recommend a period of 4 weeks of K-wire fixation followed by 2 weeks of backslab immobilisation as adequate for union with minimal risk of infection.

The need for a system of prognostication in skeletal metastasis to decide best end-of-life care - a call to arms.

INTRODUCTION: The near terminal patient with skeletal metastasis may suitably be palliated with an intramedullary nail whereas another patient with good survival potential may benefit from a more extensive resection and reconstructive procedure. In a previous study by the senior author (Nathan et al, 2005), life expectancy in patients operated on for bone metastases correlated with clinical and haematological parameters in a normogram. We performed a cross-cultural comparison to validate this normogram. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We randomly selected 73 patients who had undergone surgery for metastatic bone disease between 28 December 2000 and 11 March 2009. The time to deaths was recorded from hospital records and telephone interviews. Multiple parameters including clinical, radiological and haematological were evaluated for significant prognostic value using Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis. Statistically significant parameters were entered into a Cox regression model for statistically independent significance. A multi-tier prediction of survival was performed by workers from various levels of seniority. RESULTS: At the time of analysis, there were 40 deaths (55%). Median survival was 15.8 (95% CI, 7.9 to 23.7) months. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that low haemoglobin (P = 0.0000005), presence of lymph node metastases (P = 0.00008), multiple bone metastases (P = 0.003), presence of visceral metastases, (P = 0.007), low lymphocyte count (P = 0.02) and low serum albumin (P = 0.02) were significantly associated with poor survival. By Cox regression analysis, presence of visceral metastases (P = 0.002), presence of lymph node metastases (P = 0.0002) and low haemoglobin (P = 0.01) were shown to be independent factors in the prediction of survival. Survivorship readings were superimposed onto the previous normogram and found to be similar. Independent blinded use of the normogram allowed good prediction of survival. There was a tendency to underestimate survival when patients survived beyond 1 year of skeletal metastasis. CONCLUSION: Our findings are similar to that of the previous study in showing a relationship between the above-mentioned parameters and survival. This is despite differences in patient demographic characteristics and management protocols. Use of the tools may allow better siting of most appropriate surgery in metastatic bony disease.