Aims. We first sought to compare survival for patients treated surgically for solitary and multiple metastases in the appendicular skeleton, and second, to explore the role of complete and incomplete resection (R0 and R1/R2) in patients with a solitary bony metastasis in the appendicular skeleton. Methods. We conducted a retrospective study on a population-based cohort of all adult patients treated surgically for bony metastases of the appendicular skeleton between January 2014 and December 2019. We excluded patients in whom the status of
Aims. This study aims to assess first, whether mutations in the epidermal
growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Kirsten rat sarcoma (kRAS) genes
are associated with overall survival (OS) in patients who present
with symptomatic
Aims. This study aimed to compare the performance of survival prediction models for
Aims. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether closed intramedullary
(IM) nailing with percutaneous cement augmentation is better than
conventional closed nailing at relieving pain and suppressing tumours
in patients with metastases of the femur and humerus. Patients and Methods. A total of 43 patients (27 men, 16 women, mean age 63.7 years,
standard deviation (. sd. ) 12.2; 21 to 84) underwent closed
IM nailing with cement augmentation for long
An increased long-term survival of patients with malignant tumours also increases the possibility of the development of skeletal metastases and pathological fractures. The management of
Advances in treatment have extended the life expectancy of patients with metastatic bone disease (MBD). Patients could experience more skeletal-related events (SREs) as a result of this progress. Those who have already experienced a SRE could encounter another local management for a subsequent SRE, which is not part of the treatment for the initial SRE. However, there is a noted gap in research on the rate and characteristics of subsequent SREs requiring further localized treatment, obligating clinicians to extrapolate from experiences with initial SREs when confronting subsequent ones. This study aimed to investigate the proportion of MBD patients developing subsequent SREs requiring local treatment, examine if there are prognostic differences at the initial treatment between those with single versus subsequent SREs, and determine if clinical, oncological, and prognostic features differ between initial and subsequent SRE treatments. This retrospective study included 3,814 adult patients who received local treatment – surgery and/or radiotherapy – for bone metastasis between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019. All included patients had at least one SRE requiring local treatment. A subsequent SRE was defined as a second SRE requiring local treatment. Clinical, oncological, and prognostic features were compared between single SREs and subsequent SREs using Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher’s exact test, and Kaplan–Meier curve.Aims
Methods
Accurate estimations of the risk of fracture due to metastatic bone disease in the femur is essential in order to avoid both under-treatment and over-treatment of patients with an impending pathological fracture. The purpose of the current retrospective in vivo study was to use CT-based finite element analyses (CTFEA) to identify a clear quantitative differentiating factor between patients who are at imminent risk of fracturing their femur and those who are not, and to identify the exact location of maximal weakness where the fracture is most likely to occur. Data were collected on 82 patients with femoral metastatic bone disease, 41 of whom did not undergo prophylactic fixation. A total of 15 had a pathological fracture within six months following the CT scan, and 26 were fracture-free during the five months following the scan. The Mirels score and strain fold ratio (SFR) based on CTFEA was computed for all patients. A SFR value of 1.48 was used as the threshold for a pathological fracture. The sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predicted values for Mirels score and SFR predictions were computed for nine patients who fractured and 24 who did not, as well as a comparison of areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC of the ROC curves).Aims
Methods
Aims. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and radiological outcomes of an antiprotrusio acetabular cage (APC) when used in the surgical treatment of periacetabular
Aims. Patients with differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTCs) have a favourable long-term survival. Spinal metastases (SMs) cause a decline in performance status (PS), directly affecting mortality and indirectly preventing the use of systemic therapies. Metastasectomy is indicated, if feasible, as it yields the best local tumour control. Our study aimed to examine the long-term clinical outcomes of metastasectomy for SMs of thyroid carcinomas. Methods. We collected data on 22 patients with DTC (16 follicular and six papillary carcinomas) and one patient with medullary carcinoma who underwent complete surgical resection of SMs at our institution between July 1992 and July 2017, with a minimum postoperative follow-up of five years. The cancer-specific survival (CSS) from the first spinal metastasectomy to death or the last follow-up was determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Potential factors associated with survival were evaluated using the log-rank test. We analyzed the clinical parameters and outcome data, including pre- and postoperative disability (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS 3), lung and non-spinal
The February 2024 Oncology Roundup. 360. looks at: Does primary tumour resection improve survival for patients with sarcomas of the pelvis with metastasis at diagnosis?; Proximal femur replacements for an oncologic indication offer a durable endoprosthetic reconstruction option: a 40-year experience; The importance of awaiting biopsy results in solitary pathological proximal femoral fractures: do we need to biopsy solitary pathological fractures?; Effect of radiotherapy on local recurrence, distant metastasis, and overall survival in 1,200 extremity soft-tissue sarcoma patients; What to choose in bone tumour resections? Patient-specific instrumentation versus surgical navigation; Optimal timing of re-excision in synovial sarcoma patients: immediate intervention versus waiting for local recurrence; Survival differences of patients with resected extraskeletal osteosarcoma receiving two different (neo) adjuvant chemotherapy regimens; Solitary versus multiple
Aims. Acridine orange (AO) demonstrates several biological activities. When exposed to low doses of X-ray radiation, AO increases the production of reactive radicals (radiodynamic therapy (AO-RDT)). We elucidated the efficacy of AO-RDT in breast and prostate cancer cell lines, which are likely to develop
Aims. Surgery is often indicated in patients with metastatic bone disease (MBD) to improve pain and maximize function. Few studies are available which report on clinically meaningful outcomes such as quality of life, function, and pain relief after surgery for MBD. This is the published protocol for the Bone Metastasis Audit — Patient Reported Outcomes (BoMA-PRO) multicentre MBD study. The primary objective is to ascertain patient-reported quality of life at three to 24 months post-surgery for MBD. Methods. This will be a prospective, longitudinal study across six UK orthopaedic centres powered to identify the influence of ten patient variables on quality of life at three months after surgery for MBD. Adult patients managed for
Aims. Most patients with advanced malignancy suffer
Aims. The incidence of
The modern prevalence of primary tumours causing metastatic bone disease is ill-defined in the oncological literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of primary tumours in the setting of metastatic bone disease, as well as reported rates of pathological fracture, postoperative complications, 90-day mortality, and 360-day mortality for each primary tumour subtype. The Premier Healthcare Database was queried to identify all patients who were diagnosed with metastatic bone disease from January 2015 to December 2020. The prevalence of all primary tumour subtypes was tabulated. Rates of long bone pathological fracture, 90-day mortality, and 360-day mortality following surgical treatment of pathological fracture were assessed for each primary tumour subtype. Patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes were analyzed based upon whether patients had impending fractures treated prophylactically versus treated completed fractures.Aims
Methods
Cite this article:
We retrospectively reviewed 71 histopathologically-confirmed bone and soft-tissue metastases of unknown origin at presentation. In order to identify the site of the primary tumour all 71 cases were examined with conventional procedures, including CT, serum tumour markers, a plain radiograph, ultrasound examination and endoscopic examinations, and 24 of the 71 cases underwent 2-deoxy-2-[F-18] fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). This detected multiple
Aims. Surgical intervention in patients with
The ageing population and an increase in both
the incidence and prevalence of cancer pose a healthcare challenge, some
of which is borne by the orthopaedic community in the form of osteoporotic
fractures and metastatic bone disease. In recent years there has
been an increasing understanding of the pathways involved in bone
metabolism relevant to osteoporosis and
The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of 3D-printed modular prostheses in patients who underwent joint-sparing limb salvage surgery (JSLSS) for malignant femoral diaphyseal bone tumours. We retrospectively reviewed 17 patients (13 males and four females) with femoral diaphyseal tumours who underwent JSLSS in our hospital.Aims
Methods
Radiotherapy is a well-known local treatment for spinal metastases. However, in the presence of postoperative systemic therapy, the efficacy of radiotherapy on local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) in patients with spinal metastases remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of post-surgical radiotherapy for spinal metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and to identify factors correlated with LC and OS. A retrospective, single-centre review was conducted of patients with spinal metastases from NSCLC who underwent surgery followed by systemic therapy at our institution from January 2018 to September 2022. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests were used to compare the LC and OS between groups. Associated factors for LC and OS were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.Aims
Methods
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent degenerative joint disorder characterized by joint pain and physical disability. Aberrant subchondral bone induces pathological changes and is a major source of pain in OA. In the subchondral bone, which is highly innervated, nerves have dual roles in pain sensation and bone homeostasis regulation. The interaction between peripheral nerves and target cells in the subchondral bone, and the interplay between the sensory and sympathetic nervous systems, allow peripheral nerves to regulate subchondral bone homeostasis. Alterations in peripheral innervation and local transmitters are closely related to changes in nociception and subchondral bone homeostasis, and affect the progression of OA. Recent literature has substantially expanded our understanding of the physiological and pathological distribution and function of specific subtypes of neurones in bone. This review summarizes the types and distribution of nerves detected in the tibial subchondral bone, their cellular and molecular interactions with bone cells that regulate subchondral bone homeostasis, and their role in OA pain. A comprehensive understanding and further investigation of the functions of peripheral innervation in the subchondral bone will help to develop novel therapeutic approaches to effectively prevent OA, and alleviate OA pain. Cite this article:
Iliosacral sarcoma resections have been shown to have high rates of local recurrence (LR) and poor overall survival. There is also no universal classification for the resection of pelvic sarcomas invading the sacrum. This study proposes a novel classification system and analyzes the survival and risk of recurrence, when using this system. This is a retrospective analysis of 151 patients (with median follow-up in survivors of 44 months (interquartile range 12 to 77)) who underwent hemipelvectomy with iliosacral resection at a single centre between 2007 and 2019. The proposed classification differentiates the extent of iliosacral resection and defines types S1 to S6 (S1 resection medial and parallel to the sacroiliac joint, S2 resection through the ipsilateral sacral lateral mass to the neuroforamina, S3 resection through the ipsilateral neuroforamina, S4 resection through ipsilateral the spinal canal, and S5 and S6 contralateral sacral resections). Descriptive statistics and the chi-squared test were used for categorical variables, and the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were performed.Aims
Methods
Bone metastasis ultimately occurs due to a complex multistep process, during which the interactions between cancer cells and bone microenvironment play important roles. Prior to colonization of the bone, cancer cells must succeed through a series of steps that will allow them to gain migratory and invasive properties; epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is known to be integral here. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of G protein subunit alpha Q (GNAQ) on the mechanisms underlying bone metastasis through EMT pathway. A total of 80 tissue samples from patients who were surgically treated during January 2012 to December 2014 were used in the present study. Comparative gene analysis revealed that the GNAQ was more frequently altered in metastatic bone lesions than in primary tumour sites in lung cancer patients. We investigated the effects of GNAQ on cell proliferation, migration, EMT, and stem cell transformation using lung cancer cells with GNAQ-knockdown. A xenograft mouse model tested the effect of GNAQ using micro-CT analyses and histological analyses.Aims
Methods
Proximal femoral endoprosthetic replacements (PFEPRs) are the most common reconstruction option for osseous defects following primary and metastatic tumour resection. This study aimed to compare the rate of implant failure between PFEPRs with monopolar and bipolar hemiarthroplasties and acetabular arthroplasties, and determine the optimum articulation for revision PFEPRs. This is a retrospective review of 233 patients who underwent PFEPR. The mean age was 54.7 years (SD 18.2), and 99 (42.5%) were male. There were 90 patients with primary bone tumours (38.6%), 122 with metastatic bone disease (52.4%), and 21 with haematological malignancy (9.0%). A total of 128 patients had monopolar (54.9%), 74 had bipolar hemiarthroplasty heads (31.8%), and 31 underwent acetabular arthroplasty (13.3%).Aims
Methods
1. Two girls with non-familial osteogenesis imperfecta who subsequently developed osteosarcoma of the femur are described. One is of special interest in that there were multiple
1. Secondary tumours in bone are common in Uganda. 2. Of the five tumours which often give rise to
The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical results of operative intervention for femoral metastases which were selected based on expected survival and to discuss appropriate surgical strategies. From 2002 to 2017, 148 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for femoral metastasis were included in this study. Prognostic risk assessments were performed according to the Katagiri and revised Katagiri scoring system. In general, the low-risk group underwent resection and reconstruction with endoprosthetic replacement (EPR), while the high-risk group underwent internal fixation (IF) and radiation therapy. For the intermediate-risk group, the operative choice depended on the patient’s condition, degree of bone destruction, and radio-sensitivity. Overall survival, local failure, walking ability, and systemic complications were evaluated.Aims
Methods
The total plasma alkaline phosphatase level has long been recognised as an indicator of osteoblastic activity, but lack of specificity makes it an insensitive index of the progress of disease and the response to treatment. Selective precipitation by wheatgerm lectin allows measurement of the plasma bone-specific alkaline phosphatase. We measured the plasma levels of this isoenzyme in 170 normal Chinese adolescents and adults, in 49 adults with fractures of a long bone, in 15 patients with osteosarcoma and in 38 patients with osteolytic metastases. The enzyme activity was also determined in 39 patients with liver disease. Of the patients with fractures, 94% had increased plasma activity during the healing process. The level was also increased in those with osteosarcoma but not in those with osteolytic
Antibiotic resistance represents a threat to human health. It has been suggested that by 2050, antibiotic-resistant infections could cause ten million deaths each year. In orthopaedics, many patients undergoing surgery suffer from complications resulting from implant-associated infection. In these circumstances secondary surgery is usually required and chronic and/or relapsing disease may ensue. The development of effective treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections is needed. Recent evidence shows that bacteriophage (phages; viruses that infect bacteria) therapy may represent a viable and successful solution. In this review, a brief description of bone and joint infection and the nature of bacteriophages is presented, as well as a summary of our current knowledge on the use of bacteriophages in the treatment of bacterial infections. We present contemporary published in vitro and in vivo data as well as data from clinical trials, as they relate to bone and joint infections. We discuss the potential use of bacteriophage therapy in orthopaedic infections. This area of research is beginning to reveal successful results, but mostly in nonorthopaedic fields. We believe that bacteriophage therapy has potential therapeutic value for implant-associated infections in orthopaedics. Cite this article:
With recent progress in cancer treatment, the number of advanced-age patients with spinal metastases has been increasing. It is important to clarify the influence of advanced age on outcomes following surgery for spinal metastases, especially with a focus on subjective health state values. We prospectively analyzed 101 patients with spinal metastases who underwent palliative surgery from 2013 to 2016. These patients were divided into two groups based on age (< 70 years and ≥ 70 years). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), Barthel index (BI), and EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) score were assessed at study enrolment and at one, three, and six months after surgery. The survival times and complications were also collected.Aims
Methods
This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and prognosis of patients with spinal metastasis as the initial manifestation of malignancy (SM-IMM). We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of 338 patients who underwent surgical treatment for metastatic spinal disease. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups. The SM-IMM group included patients with no history of malignancy whose site of primary malignancy was diagnosed after the identification of spinal metastasis. The other group included patients with a history of treatment for primary malignancy who then developed spinal metastasis (SM-DTM). The incidence of SM-IMM by site of primary malignancy was calculated. The difference between prognoses after surgical treatment for SM-IMM and SM-DTM was established.Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to present the long-term surgical outcomes, complications, implant survival, and causes of implant failure in patients treated with the modified Harrington procedure using antegrade large diameter pins. A cohort of 50 consecutive patients who underwent the modified Harrington procedure for periacetabular metastasis or haematological malignancy between January 1996 and April 2018 were studied. The median follow-up time for all survivors was 3.2 years (interquartile range 0.9 to 7.6 years).Aims
Patients and Methods
Aims
Patients and Methods
In this prospective cohort study, we investigated whether patient-specific finite element (FE) models can identify patients at risk of a pathological femoral fracture resulting from metastatic bone disease, and compared these FE predictions with clinical assessments by experienced clinicians. A total of 39 patients with non-fractured femoral metastatic lesions who were irradiated for pain were included from three radiotherapy institutes. During follow-up, nine pathological fractures occurred in seven patients. Quantitative CT-based FE models were generated for all patients. Femoral failure load was calculated and compared between the fractured and non-fractured femurs. Due to inter-scanner differences, patients were analyzed separately for the three institutes. In addition, the FE-based predictions were compared with fracture risk assessments by experienced clinicians.Objectives
Methods
The aim of this study was to identify factors that determine outcomes of treatment for patients with chondroblastic osteosarcomas (COS) of the limbs and pelvis. The authors carried out a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from 256 patients diagnosed between 1979 and 2015. Of the 256 patients diagnosed with COS of the pelvis and the limbs, 147 patients (57%) were male and 109 patients (43%) were female. The mean age at presentation was 20 years (0 to 90).Aims
Patients and Methods
The aims of this study were to evaluate the long-term outcome
of surgery for bone or soft-tissue metastases from renal cell carcinoma
(RCC) and to determine factors that affect prognosis. Between 1993 and 2014, 58 patients underwent surgery for bone
or soft-tissue metastases from RCC at our hospital. There were 46
men and 12 women with a mean age of 60 years (25 to 84). The mean
follow-up period was 52 months (1 to 257). The surgical sites included
the spine (33 patients), appendicular skeleton (ten patients), pelvis (eight
patients), thorax (four patients), and soft tissue (three patients).
The surgical procedures were Aims
Patients and Methods
The aim of this study was to assess the current trends in the estimation of survival and the preferred forms of treatment of pathological fractures among national and international general and oncological orthopaedic surgeons, and to explore whether improvements in the management of these patients could be identified in this way. All members of the Dutch Orthopaedic Society (DOS) and the European Musculoskeletal Oncology Society (EMSOS) were invited to complete a web-based questionnaire containing 12 cases.Aims
Materials and Methods
Forty-seven histologically confirmed cases of Ewing's tumour are reported, with typical age, sex and skeletal distributions. The disease-free survival curves are like those for osteosarcoma of corresponding types of bone, but with higher mortality. The two-year disease-free survival rates were 24 per cent for tumours of long bones and 5 per cent for those of other
The purpose of this study was to develop a prognostic model for
predicting survival of patients undergoing surgery owing to metastatic
bone disease (MBD) in the appendicular skeleton. We included a historical cohort of 130 consecutive patients (mean
age 64 years, 30 to 85; 76 females/54 males) who underwent joint
arthroplasty surgery (140 procedures) owing to MBD in the appendicular
skeleton during the period between January 2003 and December 2008.
Primary cancer, pre-operative haemoglobin, fracture Aims
Methods
The December 2015 Oncology Roundup360 looks at: Amputation may not be the best option; Growing golf balls bad news!; How close is safe? Radiotherapy and surgery; Lymphocyte: monocyte ratio in osteosarcoma; Are borderline cartilage tumours really borderline?; Boosting algorithms improves survival estimates; CT better than Mirels?
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.
Short intense electrical pulses transiently increase the permeability of the cell membrane, an effect known as electroporation. This can be combined with antiblastic drugs for ablation of tumours of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of electroporation when applied to bone and to understand whether the presence of mineralised trabeculae would affect the capability of the electric field to porate the membrane of bone cells. Different levels of electrical field were applied to the femoral bone of rabbits. The field distribution and modelling were simulated by computer. Specimens of bone from treated and control rabbits were obtained for histology, histomorphometry and biomechanical testing. After seven days, the area of ablation had increased in line with the number of pulses and/or with the amplitude of the electrical field applied. The osteogenic activity in the ablated area had recovered by 30 days. Biomechanical testing showed structural integrity of the bone at both times. Electroporation using the appropriate combination of voltage and pulses induced ablation of bone cells without affecting the recovery of osteogenic activity. It can be an effective treatment in bone and when used in combination with drugs, an option for the treatment of metastases.
Endoprosthetic reconstruction following resection of 31 tumours of the proximal femur in 30 patients was performed using a Wagner SL femoral revision stem. The mean follow-up was 25.6 months (0.6 to 130.0). Of the 28 patients with a metastasis, 27 died within a mean follow-up period of 18.1 months (0.6 to 56.3) after the operation, and the remaining patient was excluded from the study 44.4 months post-operatively when the stem was removed. The two patients with primary bone tumours were still alive at the latest follow-up of 81.0 and 130.0 months, respectively. One stem only was removed for suspected low-grade infection 44.4 months post-operatively. The worst-case survival rate with removal of the stem for any cause and/or loss to follow-up was 80.0% (95% confidence interval 44.9 to 100) at 130.0 months. The mean Karnofsky index increased from 44.2% (20% to 70%) pre-operatively to 59.7% (0% to 100%) post-operatively, and the mean Merle d’Aubigné score improved from 4.5 (0 to 15) to 12.0 (0 to 18). The mean post-operative Musculoskeletal Tumour Society score was 62.4% (3.3% to 100%). The Wagner SL femoral revision stem offers an alternative to special tumour prostheses for the treatment of primary and secondary tumours of the proximal femur. The mid-term results are very promising, but long-term experience is necessary.
Between 1986 and 2002, 42 patients with synchronous multifocal osteosarcoma were treated with two different protocols of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. When feasible, the primary and secondary tumours were excised as a combined procedure. After initial chemotherapy 26 patients were excluded from simultaneous excision of all their secondary bone lesions as their disease was too advanced. In 12 patients only isolated excision of the primary lesion was possible. For 16 patients simultaneous operations were conducted to excise the primary and secondary lesions. This involved two supplementary sites in 15 patients and four additional sites in one patient. Of these, 15 attained remission but 12 relapsed and died (11 within two years). Three patients remained disease-free at five, six and 17 years. The histological response to pre-operative chemotherapy of the primary and secondary lesions was concordant in 13 of the 16 patients who underwent simultaneous operations at more than one site. The prognosis for synchronous multifocal osteosarcoma remains poor despite combined chemotherapy and surgery. The homogeneous histological responses in a large proportion of the primary and secondary lesions implies that synchronous multifocal osteosarcoma tumours are not multicentric in origin, but probably represent bone-to-bone metastases from a single tumour.
The revised Tokuhashi, Tomita and modified Bauer
scores are commonly used to make difficult decisions in the management
of patients presenting with spinal metastases. A prospective cohort
study of 199 consecutive patients presenting with spinal metastases,
treated with either surgery and/or radiotherapy, was used to compare
the three systems. Cox regression, Nagelkerke’s R2 and
Harrell’s concordance were used to compare the systems and find their
best predictive items. The three systems were equally good in terms
of overall prognostic performance. Their most predictive items were
used to develop the Oswestry Spinal Risk Index (OSRI), which has
a similar concordance, but a larger coefficient of determination
than any of these three scores. A bootstrap procedure was used to
internally validate this score and determine its prediction optimism. The OSRI is a simple summation of two elements: primary tumour
pathology (PTP) and general condition (GC): OSRI = PTP + (2 – GC). This simple score can predict life expectancy accurately in patients
presenting with spinal metastases. It will be helpful in making
difficult clinical decisions without the delay of extensive investigations. Cite this article:
The December 2014 Oncology Roundup360 looks at: metaphyseal and diaphyseal osteosarcoma subtly different beasts; sports and endoprosthetic reconstruction of the knee; is curettage without tissue diagnosis sensible in cartilaginous tumours?; autoclaved autograft in bone tumour reconstruction; vascularised graft a step too far in bone defects?; interdigitated neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in high-grade sarcoma; predicting life expectancy in patients with painful metastasis; and osteolytic lesions of the hands and feet.
We have developed a hollow perforated cannulated screw. One or more of these was implanted percutaneously in 11 patients with an osteolytic metastasis in the femoral neck and multiple metastases elsewhere. They were supplemented by one or two additional standard 6.5 mm cannulated screws in nine patients. Polymethylmethacrylate bone cement was injected through the screw into the neck of the femur using small syringes, as in vertebroplasty. The mean amount of cement injected was 23.2 ml (17 to 30). Radiotherapy was started on the fourth post-operative day and chemotherapy, on average, was resumed a day later. Good structural stability and satisfactory relief from pain were achieved in all the patients. This technique may be useful in the palliation of metastases in the femoral neck.
Atypical cartilaginous tumours are usually treated
by curettage. The purpose of this study was to show that radiofrequency
ablation was an effective alternative treatment. We enrolled 20 patients (two male, 18 female, mean age 56 years
(36 to 72) in a proof-of-principle study. After inclusion, biopsy
and radiofrequency ablation were performed, followed three months
later by curettage and adjuvant phenolisation. The primary endpoint
was the proportional necrosis in the retrieved material. Secondary endpoints
were correlation with the findings on gadolinium enhanced MRI, functional
outcome and complications. Our results show that 95% to 100% necrosis was obtained in 14
of the 20 patients. MRI had a 91% sensitivity and 67% specificity
for detecting residual tumour after curettage. The mean functional
outcome (MSTS) score six weeks after radiofrequency ablation was
27.1 (23 to 30) compared with 18.1 (12 to 25) after curettage (p
<
0.001). No complications occurred after ablation, while two
patients developed a pathological fracture after curettage. We have shown that radiofrequency ablation is capable of completely
eradicating cartilaginous tumour cells in selective cases. MRI has
a 91% sensitivity for detecting any residual tumour. Radiofrequency
ablation can be performed on an outpatient basis allowing a rapid
return to normal activities. If it can be made more effective, it
has the potential to provide better local control, while improving
functional outcome. Cite this article:
The pre-operative differentiation between enchondroma,
low-grade chondrosarcoma and high-grade chondrosarcoma remains a
diagnostic challenge. We reviewed the accuracy and safety of the
radiological grading of cartilaginous tumours through the assessment
of, first, pre-operative radiological and post-operative histological agreement,
and second the rate of recurrence in lesions confirmed as high-grade
on histology. We performed a retrospective review of major long
bone cartilaginous tumours managed by curettage as low grade between
2001 and 2012. A total of 53 patients with a mean age of 47.6 years
(8 to 71) were included. There were 23 men and 30 women. The tumours
involved the femur (n = 20), humerus (n = 18), tibia (n = 9), fibula
(n = 3), radius (n = 2) and ulna (n = 1). Pre-operative diagnoses
resulted from multidisciplinary consensus following radiological
review alone for 35 tumours, or with the addition of pre-operative
image guided needle biopsy for 18. The histologically confirmed diagnosis
was enchondroma for two (3.7%), low-grade chondrosarcoma for 49
(92.6%) and high-grade chondrosarcoma for two (3.7%). Three patients
with a low-grade tumour developed a local recurrence at a mean of 15
months (12 to 17) post-operatively. A single high-grade recurrence
(grade II) was treated with tibial diaphyseal replacement. The overall
recurrence rate was 7.5% at a mean follow-up of 4.7 years (1.2 to
12.3). Cartilaginous tumours identified as low-grade on pre-operative
imaging with or without additional image-guided needle biopsy can
safely be managed as low-grade without pre-operative histological
diagnosis. A few tumours may demonstrate high-grade features histologically,
but the rates of recurrence are not affected. Cite this article:
We hypothesised that cells obtained via a Reamer–Irrigator–Aspirator
(RIA) system retain substantial osteogenic potential and are at
least equivalent to graft harvested from the iliac crest. Graft
was harvested using the RIA in 25 patients (mean age 37.6 years
(18 to 68)) and from the iliac crest in 21 patients (mean age 44.6
years (24 to 78)), after which ≥ 1 g of bony particulate graft material
was processed from each. Initial cell viability was assessed using Trypan
blue exclusion, and initial fluorescence-activated cell sorting
(FACS) analysis for cell lineage was performed. After culturing
the cells, repeat FACS analysis for cell lineage was performed and
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for osteocalcin, and Alizarin
red staining to determine osteogenic potential. Cells obtained via
RIA or from the iliac crest were viable and matured into mesenchymal
stem cells, as shown by staining for the specific mesenchymal antigens
CD90 and CD105. For samples from both RIA and the iliac crest there
was a statistically significant increase in bone production (both
p <
0.001), as demonstrated by osteocalcin production after induction. Medullary autograft cells harvested using RIA are viable and
osteogenic. Cell viability and osteogenic potential were similar
between bone grafts obtained from both the RIA system and the iliac
crest. Cite this article:
The April 2013 Oncology Roundup360 looks at: the margin for error; new money for old risks; hindquarter amputation; custom tumour jigs; preserving the tibial epiphysis; how long is long enough?; genomics and radiation-induced bone tumours; and India ink.
Stem cells are a key component of regenerative medicine strategies. Particular areas of musculoskeletal application include cartilage and bone regeneration in arthritis and trauma. There are several types of stem cell and this article will focus on the adult derived cells. The review includes current issues and future developments.
The June 2012 Oncology Roundup360 looks at: avoiding pelvic hemipelvectomy; proximal femoral metastasis; extendible prostheses; rotationplasty; soft-tissue sarcomas; osteosarcoma of the pelvis; recurrent chondrosarcoma ; MRI and the differentiation between benign and malignant lesions; and malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
Previously, we showed that case-specific non-linear
finite element (FE) models are better at predicting the load to failure
of metastatic femora than experienced clinicians. In this study
we improved our FE modelling and increased the number of femora
and characteristics of the lesions. We retested the robustness of
the FE predictions and assessed why clinicians have difficulty in
estimating the load to failure of metastatic femora. A total of
20 femora with and without artificial metastases were mechanically
loaded until failure. These experiments were simulated using case-specific
FE models. Six clinicians ranked the femora on load to failure and
reported their ranking strategies. The experimental load to failure
for intact and metastatic femora was well predicted by the FE models (R2 =
0.90 and R2 = 0.93, respectively). Ranking metastatic
femora on load to failure was well performed by the FE models (τ =
0.87), but not by the clinicians (0.11 <
τ <
0.42). Both the
FE models and the clinicians allowed for the characteristics of
the lesions, but only the FE models incorporated the initial bone
strength, which is essential for accurately predicting the risk
of fracture. Accurate prediction of the risk of fracture should
be made possible for clinicians by further developing FE models.
We undertook a retrospective review of 33 patients who underwent total femoral endoprosthetic replacement as limb salvage following excision of a malignant bone tumour. In 22 patients this was performed as a primary procedure following total femoral resection for malignant disease. Revision to a total femoral replacement was required in 11 patients following failed segmental endoprosthetic or allograft reconstruction. There were 33 patients with primary malignant tumours, and three had metastatic lesions. The mean age of the patients was 31 years (5 to 68). The mean follow-up was 4.2 years (9 months to 16.4 years). At five years the survival of the implants was 100%, with removal as the endpoint and 56% where the endpoint was another surgical intervention. At five years the patient survival was 32%. Complications included dislocation of the hip in six patients (18%), local recurrence in three (9%), peri-prosthetic fracture in two and infection in one. One patient subsequently developed pulmonary metastases. There were no cases of aseptic loosening or amputation. Four patients required a change of bushings. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumour Society functional outcome score was 67%, the mean Harris Hip Score was 70, and the mean Oxford Knee Score was 34. Total femoral endoprosthetic replacement can provide good functional outcome without compromising patient survival, and in selected cases provides an effective alternative to amputation.
Although bone and soft-tissue sarcomas are rare, early diagnosis and prompt referral to a specialised unit offers the best chance of a successful outcome both in terms of survival and surgical resection. This paper highlights the clinical and radiological features that might suggest the possibility of a bone or soft-tissue sarcoma and suggests a succinct management pathway for establishing whether a suspicious bone or soft-tissue lesion could be malignant.
Vertebral compression fractures are the most prevalent complication of osteoporosis and percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) has emerged as a promising addition to the methods of treating the debilitating pain they may cause. Since PVP was first reported in the literature in 1987, more than 600 clinical papers have been published on the subject. Most report excellent improvements in pain relief and quality of life. However, these papers have been based mostly on uncontrolled cohort studies with a wide variety of inclusion and exclusion criteria. In 2009, two high-profile randomised controlled trials were published in the
Pathological fractures of the humerus are associated with pain, morbidity, loss of function and a diminished quality of life. We report our experience of stabilising these fractures using polymethylmethacrylate and non-locking plates. We undertook a retrospective review over 20 years of patients treated at a tertiary musculoskeletal oncology centre. Those who had undergone surgery for an impending or completed pathological humeral fracture with a diagnosis of metastatic disease or myeloma were identified from our database. There were 63 patients (43 men, 20 women) in the series with a mean age of 63 years (39 to 87). All had undergone intralesional curettage of the tumour followed by fixation with intramedullary polymethylmethacrylate and plating. Complications occurred in 14 patients (22.2%) and seven (11.1%) required re-operation. At the latest follow-up, 47 patients (74.6%) were deceased and 16 (25.4%) were living with a mean follow-up of 75 months (1 to 184). A total of 54 (86%) patients had no or mild pain and 50 (80%) required no or minimal assistance with activities of daily living. Of the 16 living patients none had pain and all could perform activities of daily living without assistance. Intralesional resection of the tumour, filling of the cavity with cement, and plate stabilisation of the pathological fracture gives immediate rigidity and allows an early return of function without the need for bony union. The patient’s local disease burden is reduced, which may alleviate tumour-related pain and slow the progression of the disease. The cemented-plate technique provides a reliable option for the treatment of pathological fractures of the humerus.
The aim of this study was to identify whether there was any difference in patient, tumour, treatment or outcome characteristics between patients with skeletal or extra-skeletal Ewing’s sarcoma. We identified 300 patients with new primary Ewing’s sarcoma diagnosed between 1980 and 2005 from the centres’ local database. There were 253 (84%) with skeletal and 47 (16%) with extra-skeletal Ewing’s sarcomas. Although patients with skeletal Ewing’s were younger (mean age 16.8 years) than those with extra-skeletal Ewing’s sarcoma (mean age 27.5 years), there was little difference between the groups in terms of tumour stage or treatment. Nearly all the patients were treated with chemotherapy and most had surgery. There was no difference in the overall survival of patients with skeletal (64%) and extra-skeletal Ewing’s sarcoma (61%) (p = 0.85), and this was also the case when both groups were split by whether they had metastases or not. This large series has shown that the oncological outcomes of Ewing’s sarcoma are related to tumour characteristics and patient age, and not determined by whether they arise in bone or soft tissue.
We set out to determine the impact of surgery on quality of life and function in patients who had undergone surgery for symptomatic peri-acetabular metastases. From a prospective database we retrospectively reviewed 46 consecutive patients who had been treated operatively between June 2003 and June 2009. The mean age of the patients was 56.4 years (20 to 73) and the mean post-operative follow-up was 19.2 months (4 to 70). Functional evaluation and quality-of-life assessments were performed. At the most recent follow-up, 26 patients (56.5%) were alive. Their median survival time was 25.0 months. Ten major postoperative complications had occurred in eight patients (17.4%). The mean post-operative Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score (MSTS 93) was 56.3% (6.7% to 90.0%). Improvement in the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status was seen in 32 patients (69.6%). On the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer core quality-of-life questionnaire (QLQ-C30) measure of global health status there was a statistically significant improvement from the patients’ pre-operative status (42.8 ( Surgery for patients with peri-acetabular metastases reduces pain and improves their quality of life, and has a low rate of surgical complications.
We identified eight patients of 2900 with a primary malignant bone tumour who had coexisting neurofibromatosis type 1. This was a much higher incidence than would be expected by chance. The patients had a mean age of 22.4 years (9 to 54): five were male. Two patients subsequently developed a second bone sarcoma, one of which was radiation induced. Four of the primary tumours were osteosarcomas, four were spindle-cell sarcomas and one a Ewing’s sarcoma. All the patients were treated with chemotherapy and surgery: six of the eight appear to be cured. This study suggests a possible relationship between neurofibromatosis type 1 and the development of a bone sarcoma, the increased risk being estimated at eight times that of the normal population. We recommend that further research into this possible link should be considered.
Metastatic epidural compression of the spinal cord is a significant source of morbidity in patients with systemic cancer. With improved oncological treatment, survival in these patients is improving and metastatic cord compression is encountered increasingly often. The treatment is mostly palliative. Surgical management involves early circumferential decompression of the cord with concomitant stabilisation of the spine. Patients with radiosensitive tumours without cord compression benefit from radiotherapy. Spinal stereotactic radiosurgery and minimally invasive techniques, such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, with or without radiofrequency ablation, are promising options for treatment and are beginning to be used in selected patients with spinal metastases. In this paper we review the surgical management of patients with metastatic epidural spinal cord compression.
We analysed the influence of the timing of surgery (<
48 hours, group 1, 21 patients vs >
48 hours, group 2, 14 patients) on the neurological outcome and restoration of mobility in 35 incomplete tetra- and paraplegic patients with metastatic spinal-cord compression. Pain and neurological symptoms were assessed using the American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale. More improvement was found in group 1 than in group 2 when comparing the pre-operative findings with those both immediately post-operatively (p = 0.021) and those at follow-up at four to six weeks (p = 0.010). In group 1 the number of pre-operatively mobile patients increased from 17 (81%) to 19 patients (90%) whereas the number of mobile patients in group 2 changed from nine (64%) to ten (71%). These results suggest that early surgical treatment in patients with metastatic spinal-cord compression gives a better neurological outcome even in a palliative situation.
We report positive and negative factors associated with the most commonly-used methods of reconstruction after pathological fracture of the proximal femur. The study was based on 142 patients treated surgically for 146 metastatic lesions between 1996 and 2003. The local rate of failure was 10.3% (15 of 146). Of 37 operations involving osteosynthetic devices, six failed (16.2%) compared with nine (8.3%) in 109 operations involving endoprostheses. Of nine cases of prosthetic failure, four were due to periprosthetic fractures and three to recurrent dislocation. In the osteosynthesis group, three (13.6%) of 22 reconstruction nails failed. The two-year risk of re-operation after any type of osteosynthesis was 0.35 compared with 0.18 after any type of endoprosthetic reconstruction (p = 0.07). Endoprosthetic reconstructions are preferable to the use of reconstruction nails and other osteosynthetic devices for the treatment of metastatic lesions in the proximal third of the femur.
Type BI rotationplasty is currently indicated for children with tumours of the proximal femur whereas type BIIIa rotationplasty is reserved for those in which the entire femur has to be removed. Our aim was to compare these two types of rotationplasty and determine whether the knee should be preserved in children with tumours of the proximal femur. We compared the post-operative complications, oncological outcome, range of movement, Enneking score and radiographs of six children, who had undergone type BI rotationplasty with those of 12 who had undergone type BIIIa rotationplasty. Patients with type BI rotationplasty had a mean Enneking score of 21.6 compared with 24.4 in those with type BIIIa rotationplasty, and worse mean results in all of the parameters investigated. We conclude that type BI rotationplasty has a worse functional outcome and more complications than type BIIIa rotationplasty in children under the age of ten years.