The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of local argyria in patients with silver-coated megaprostheses and to identify a possible association between argyria and elevated levels of silver both locally and in the blood. Between 2004 and 2011, 32 megaprostheses with silver coatings were implanted in 20 female and 12 male patients following revision arthroplasty for infection or resection of a malignant tumour, and the levels of silver locally in drains and seromas and in the blood were determined. The mean age of the patients was 46 years (10 to 81); one patient died in the immediate post-operative period and was excluded.

Seven patients (23%) developed local argyria after a median of 25.7 months (interquartile range 2 to 44.5). Patients with and without local argyria had comparable levels of silver in the blood and aspiration fluids. The length of the implant did not influence the development of local argyria. Patients with clinical evidence of local argyria had no neurological symptoms and no evidence of renal or hepatic failure. Thus, we conclude that the short-term surveillance of blood silver levels in these patients is not required.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:988–92.

Aim

Accurate and reliable patient information plays a crucial role in the multidisciplinary treatment of malignancies helping to ensure compliance of the patients and their relatives with often long-lasting and stressful treatment. The English version of the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia has been recently reported to be the prominent source of online health information. However, there is little information concerning the quality of information found in Wikipedia.

Introduction: Giant cell tumor of bone is a semimaligne tumor which locally recurs very often but rarely metastasises. En bloc resection of the distal radius with reconstruction using a homologeous allograft, curettage with PMMA blomb, and allograft arthrodesis are established methods. The aim of the study was to evaluate the functional outcome of our patients with the DASH-Score and the Mayo Wrist Score

Materials and Methods: In the last 7 years six patients were treated at our clinic due to a giant cell tumor of the distal radius. Two patients were primary treated with an en bloc resection. The other four were primary treated with curettage and filled up with PMMA cement plomb (Phenol was used in every case). In two of these cases a secondary en bloc resection was performed for local recurrence. For evaluation of function in daily live we used the DASH Score and the MAYO wrist score.

Results: The mean bone resection length was 5,25cm (5–6 cm).

All four patients treated with en bloc resection (primary or secondary) had no recurrence but in two out of that cases a re-operation was necessary because of non union.

At a mean follow up from 27 months (4–95) there were no recurrences or metastases at all

The flexion/extension of the wrist in currettaged radius was 60° and 80° compared with 38° and 68° in reconstructed radius. The pronation/suppination was 90°/90° in the currettaged ones versus 77°/77° in the allograft replaced ones.

The functional outcome evaluated with Mayo Wrist Score and DASH score showed an exellent outcome for both groups (84/7,7 Allograft < -> 85/10 Currettage)

Discussion: Functional outcome of distal radius resection reconstruction using an allograft is highly satisfactory compared with the literature, however we experienced a high risk for pseudoarthrosis. For prevention of non union simultan bone grafting at the index operation could be advisable.

The functional outcome proof no disadvantages in daily life and daily work compared to curettage. Thus allograft reconstruction of the distal radius represents a valuable alternative to arthrodesis.

Multifocal osteolytic lesions of the skeletal system are a challenge regarding diagnosis especially when multi-nucleated giant cells which are not specific for a tumour entity are found in the histological specimen. Therefore multiple differential diagnosis have to be considered such as metastases, primary malignant bone tumours, multicentric giant cell tumour of bone and brown tumours of primary hyperparathyroidism.

A 49 year old woman underwent medical investigation in an external surgical department due to right hip pain after a fall. The radiologic skeletal status surprised with multiple osteolytic pelvic lesions and one tumour in the left scapula and first histological diagnosis described a giant cell tumour of bone with malignant aspects. After confirmation of this diagnosis by a second histopathological inquiry accomplished by a bone tumor specialist the patient was transferred to our tumour centre. To exclude the differential diagnosis of brown tumours a close look on the parathormon level was done which revealed an exorbitantly high serum amount of 922.7 pg/ml (normal 15–65 pg/ml). Further examination confirmed a parathyroid adenoma. After its extirpation serum levels of parathormon decreased and two months after therapy with high dose calcium substitution radiologic controls show a decline of osteolysis with bone consolidation.

Brown tumours of hyperparathyroidism have always to be considered as a rare differential diagnosis of multiple giant cell containing tumours. The disease cannot be distinguished by the histological pattern but can very easily be excluded by normal parathormon levels. First step of therapy in brown tumours should be surgical extirpation of parathyroid adenomas or carcinomas followed by an endocrinological regime. Only failure of this treatment requires further surgical stabilisation of the bone lesions.

Giant cell tumor of the distal radius is associated with a high local recurrence rate. En bloc resection of the distal radius and reconstruction using osteoarticular allograft, curettage with PMMA blomb, and allograft arthrodesis are established methods. The aim of the study was to evaluate the functional outcome of our patients with the DASH-Score and the Mayo Wrist score.

In the last 7 years six patients were treated at our department due to a giant cell tumor of the distal radius. Two patients were primary treated with an en bloc resection. The other four were primary treated with curettage packing of the defect with polymethylmethacrylate. In two of these cases a secondary en bloc resection was performed for local recurrence. For evaluation of function in daily live we used the DASH score and the MAYO wrist score.

The mean bone resection length was 5,25cm (5–6 cm).All four patients treated with en bloc resection (primary or secondary) had no recurrence but in two out of that cases a re-operation was necessary because of non union.

At a mean follow up from 27 months (4–95) there were no recurrences or metastases at all.

The flexion/extension of the wrist in currettaged radius was 60°/80° compared with 38°/68° in reconstructed radius. The pronation/suppination was 90°/90° in the currettaged ones versus 77°/77° in the allograft replaced ones.

The functional outcome evaluated with Mayo Wrist Score and DASH score showed an excellent outcome for both groups (84/7,7 Allograft < -> 85/10 Currettage)

Functional outcome of distal radius resection reconstruction using an allograft is highly satisfactory compared with the literature, however we experienced a high risk for pseudoarthrosis. For prevention of non union simultaneous bone grafting at the index operation could be advisable.

Thus allograft reconstruction of the distal radius represents a valuable alternative to arthrodesis.

Epitheloid haemangioendothelioma is a rare tumour of vascular origin. It is characterised by the appearance of epitheloid endothelial cells and occurs typically in soft-tissue, skin, and liver. Less frequently it is found in bone. The tumour is more often located in the long bones of the lower extremities, and the pelvis than in the upper extremities, vertebral column, and flat bones. The lesion nearly affects all age groups and there is a male predilection.

Case 1: A 71-year old woman had pain in the area of her right hip after a downfall. X-ray showed a lucency of the cortical substance of the right femur. Scintigraphy showed a cortical lesion, oedema of the bone-marrow and an involvement of soft-tissue. Carcinoembryonic antigen, CD 31, and CD 8 were positive. An open biopsy verified an epitheloid haemangioendothelioma. Staging was negative. A wide resection of the proximal femur and reconstruction with a tumour-prosthesis were performed. Four months later the patient had osteolytic metastases of os ilium, os pubis, acetabulum and in the fifth lumbar vertebra. The patient died 8 months after the wide resection of the tumour because of myocardial infarction.

Case 2: An epitheloid haemangioendothelioma of the liver was diagnosed in a 21-year old male patient. Twelve years after the primary tumour the patient had osteolyses of the first cervical vertebra, manubrium sterni, and ribs. An open biopsy verified the metastatic spread. Local radiotherapy was performed. Furthermore the patient developed a destruction of processus spinosus and a pathologic fracture of first thoracic vertebra. The patient died of metastatic disease 2 years later or 14 years after the initial diagnosis.

Epitheloid haemangioendothelioma of bone is a rare tumour and the diagnosis is quite difficult. Metastatic rate is about 20–30% and mortality about 10–20%. As presented in our cases bone involvement could either be attributed to primary haemangioendotheliomas of bone or to metastases of non-osseous forms. As in our cases it has been reported, that predicting prognosis is difcult, however nuclear atypia, mitotic activity, spindling of cells, and necrosis have been reported as negative prognostic factors.

Although fibrous dysplasia is a benign bone disease, in few cases patient are suffering from severe pain of the skeletal system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current state regarding pain of patients with fibrous dysplasia treated at our hospital.

We searched our digital database since 1990 for patients with fibrous dysplasia. Subsequent we verified the histological diagnosis by reviewing the final pathologic report. Additional we called the identified patients by phone to make an enquiry about their pain course and associated treatment. For rating pain intensity we used a numeric rating scale with a range within zero to ten.

We identified 43 patients (21 male, 22 female) with an average age at initial diagnosis of 40 years (range 10 to 72years). The mean follow up was 6 years (range 1 to 23 years). Among these 43 patients we were able to contact 33 by phone. Initial diagnosis was made due to pain in 23 cases, nearly coequal by coincidental examination in 20 cases, for fracture in two cases and for local swelling and bone deformity each time in two cases. Thirty-six patients revealed monostotic and seven patients polyostotic involvement. The following locations were found: three times craniofacial, four times within the spine, eight times at the upper extremity, ten times in the pelvis and 31 times at the lower limb. Two patients were suffering additionally from Mazabraud Syndrome. Actual values at the numeric rating scale regarding pain ranged from 0 to 9 with a mean value of 1. Specific in the polyostotic group we found an average value of 3 and three of seven patients stated a value greater than 5 for persistent pain. Five patients with polyostotic involvement were treated with bisphosphonat for pain control with good response.

It is remarkable that patients with polyostotic involvement have marked higher values for pain intensity at the numeric rating scale. So therefore we should have a closer look for potential reasons explaining that fact. In accordance with previous published studies we found that pain decreased by intermittent intravenous application of bisphosphonates.