We studied the safety of external fixation during post-operative chemotherapy in 28 patients who had undergone distraction osteogenesis (17, group A) or vascularised fibular grafting (11, group B) after resection of a tumour. Four cycles of multi-agent post-operative chemotherapy were administered over a mean period of 14 weeks (6 to 27). The mean duration of external fixation for all patients was 350 days (91 to 828). In total 204 wires and 240 half pins were used. During the period of post-operative chemotherapy, 14 patients (11 in group A, 3 in group B) developed wire- and pin-track infection. A total of ten wires (4.9%) and 11 half pins (4.6%) became infected. Seven of the ten infected wires were in periarticular locations. External fixation during post-operative chemotherapy was used safely and successfully for fixation of a vascularised fibular graft and distraction osteogenesis in 27 of 28 patients. Post-operative chemotherapy for malignant bone tumours did not adversely affect the ability to achieve union or cause hypertrophy of the vascularised fibular graft and had a minimal effect on distraction osteogenesis. Only one patient developed osteomyelitis which required further surgery

We present a retrospective study of patients suffering from a variety of benign tumours in whom external fixators were used to treat deformity and limb-length discrepancy, and for the reconstruction of bone defects. A total of 43 limbs in 31 patients (12 male and 19 female) with a mean age of 14 years (2 to 54) were treated. The diagnosis was Ollier’s disease in 12 limbs, fibrous dysplasia in 11, osteochondroma in eight, giant cell tumour in five, osteofibrous dysplasia in five and non-ossifying fibroma in two. The lesions were treated in the tibia in 19 limbs, in the femur in 16, and in the forearm in eight. The Ilizarov frame was used in 25 limbs, the Taylor Spatial Frame in seven, the Orthofix fixator in six, the Monotube in four and the Heidelberg fixator in one. The mean follow-up was 72 months (22 to 221). The mean external fixation period was 168 days (71 to 352). The mean external fixation index was 42 days/cm (22.2 to 102.0) in the 22 patients who required limb lengthening. The mean correction angle for those with angular deformity was 23° (7° to 45°). At final follow-up all patients had returned to normal activities. Four patients required a second operation for recurrent deformity of further limb lengthening. Local recurrence occurred in one patient, requiring further surgery

We report the results of distraction osteogenesis (callotasis) for the reconstruction of extensive defects after the excision of skeletal tumours in the limbs. Bone transport was performed in ten patients (five osteosarcomas and five giant-cell tumours), shortening-distraction in three (two osteosarcomas and one Ewing’s sarcoma), and distraction osteogenesis combined with an intramedullary nail to reduce the time of external fixation in six (three osteosarcomas, two chondro-sarcomas, and one malignant fibrous histiocytoma). The mean length of the defects after excision of the lesion was 8.4 cm. The mean external fixation index was 39.5 days/cm for the group treated by bone transport, 34.1 days/cm for the shortening-distraction group, and 24.0 days/cm for the group treated by distraction and an intramedullary nail. Functional evaluation gave excellent results in 12 patients, good in five and fair in two. There were ten complications in 19 patients, all of which were successfully treated. We also classified reconstruction using distraction osteogenesis into five types based on the location of the defects after resection of the tumour: type 1, diaphyseal; type 2, metaphyseal; type 3, epiphyseal; type 4, subarticular reconstruction; and type 5, arthrodesis. Our results suggest that reconstruction using distraction osteogenesis provides bone which will develop sufficient biomechanical strength and durability. It is beneficial in patients with an expectation of long-term survival and in growing children

We have used the Ilizarov technique for the management of subarticular defects after the excision of giant-cell tumours in the proximal tibia in five patients. The defect was reconstructed with a segment of 5 to 6 cm obtained from the diaphysis of the affected tibia and by autogenous bone graft from the iliac crest. The newly developed defect in the diaphysis was reconstructed by distraction using the Ilizarov apparatus. Bone grafting at the docking site was performed soon after positioning the bone segments. The mean length of the bone defect was 5.7 cm and the mean duration of external fixation was 233 days. The relative blood flow in the leg measured by . 99m. Tc angiography increased by 1.7 to 2.3 times that of the control level during distraction and consolidation. When seen at a mean of 43 months all patients showed a normal range of motion in the knee and ankle with no collapse of the articular surfaces

Aims

The primary aim of this study was to determine the morbidity of a tibial strut autograft and characterize the rate of bony union following its use.

Aims

Free vascularised fibular grafting has been used for the treatment of large bony defects for more than 40 years. However, there is little information about the risk factors for failure and whether newer locking techniques of fixation improve the rates of union. The purpose of this study was to compare the rates of union of free fibular grafts fixed with locking and traditional techniques, and to quantify the risk factors for nonunion and failure.

Aims

Children treated for osteosarcoma around the knee often have a substantial leg-length discrepancy at skeletal maturity. The aim of this study was to investigate the results of staged skeletal reconstruction after a leg lengthening procedure using an external fixator in these patients.

Vascularised fibular grafts (VFGs ) are a valuable surgical technique in limb salvage after resection of a tumour. The primary objective of this multicentre study was to assess the risk factors for failure and complications for using a VFG after resection of a tumour.

The study involved 74 consecutive patients (45 men and 29 women with mean age of 23 years (1 to 64) from four tertiary centres for orthopaedic oncology who underwent reconstruction using a VFG after resection of a tumour between 1996 and 2011. There were 52 primary and 22 secondary reconstructions. The mean follow-up was 77 months (10 to 195).

In all, 69 patients (93%) had successful limb salvage; all of these united and 65 (88%) showed hypertrophy of the graft. The mean time to union differed between those involving the upper (28 weeks; 12 to 96) and lower limbs (44 weeks; 12 to 250). Fracture occurred in 11 (15%), and nonunion in 14 (19%) patients.

In 35 patients (47%) at least one complication arose, with a greater proportion in lower limb reconstructions, non-bridging osteosynthesis, and in children. These complications resulted in revision surgery in 26 patients (35%).

VFG is a successful and durable technique for reconstruction of a defect in bone after resection of a tumour, but is accompanied by a significant risk of complications, that often require revision surgery. Union was not markedly influenced by the need for chemo- or radiotherapy, but should not be expected during chemotherapy. Therefore, restricted weight-bearing within this period is advocated.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:853–61.

The aim of this study was to assess a specific protocol for the treatment of patients with a parosteal osteosarcoma of the distal femur with limb salvage involving hemicortical resection and reconstruction using recycled pasteurised autograft and internal fixation. Between January 2000 and January 2010, 13 patients with a mean age of 26.5 years (17 to 39) underwent this procedure. All the tumours were staged according to Enneking’s criteria: there were eight stage IA tumours and five stage IB tumours. The mean follow-up was 101.6 months (58 to 142), and mean post-operative Musculoskeletal Tumour Society functional score was 88.6% (80% to 100%) at the final follow-up. All the patients had achieved bony union; the mean time to union was 11.2 months (6 to 18). Local recurrence occurred in one patient 27 months post-operatively. No patient had a pulmonary metastasis.

A hemicortical procedure for the treatment of a parosteal osteosarcoma is safe and effective. Precise pre-operative planning using MRI is essential in order to define the margins of resection. Although it is a technically demanding procedure, gratifying results make it worthwhile for selected patients.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1275–9.

Between 1992 and 1999, we treated 350 patients with skeletal metastases. A multivariable analysis of the patients was conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model. We identified five significant prognostic factors for survival, namely, the site of the primary lesion, the performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status 3 or 4), the presence of visceral or cerebral metastases, any previous chemotherapy, and multiple skeletal metastases. The score for each significant factor was derived from the corresponding estimated regression coefficients (natural logarithm of the hazard ratio). The prognostic score was calculated by adding all the scores for individual factors.

The rate of survival was 31% at six months and 11% at one year for the patients with a prognostic score of 6 or more. By contrast, patients with a prognostic score of 2 or less had a rate of survival of 98% at six months and 89% at one year. This scoring system can be used to determine the optimal treatment for patients with pathological fractures or epidural compression.

We describe the management of nonunion combined with limb-length discrepancy following vascularised fibular grafting for the reconstruction of long-bone defects in the lower limb after resection of a tumour in skeletally immature patients. We operated on nine patients with a mean age of 13.1 years (10.5 to 14.5) who presented with a mean limb-length discrepancy of 7 cm (4 to 9) and nonunion at one end of a vascularised fibular graft, which had been performed previously, to reconstruct a bone defect after resection of an osteosarcoma.

Reconstruction was carried out using a ring fixator secured with correction by half pins of any malalignment, compression of the site of nonunion and lengthening through a metaphyseal parafocal osteotomy without bone grafting. The expected limb-length discrepancy at maturity was calculated using the arithmetic method. Solid union and the intended leg length were achieved in all the patients. Excessive scarring and the distorted anatomy from previous surgery in these patients required other procedures to be performed with minimal exposures and dissection in order to avoid further compromise to the vascularity of the graft or damage to neurovascular structures. The methods which we chose were simple and effective in addressing these complex problems.