Abstract
Introduction: The non-invasive growing prosthesis continues to be used successfully for the treatment of limb salvage operations in tumour patients. We report our continued experience in 17 skeletally immature patients with osteosarcoma of the distal femur.
Methods: Patients had a mean age of 10.2 years (range 6 to 15) at the time of surgery. The endoprosthesis was lengthened at appropriate intervals in outpatient clinics without anaesthesia using the principle of electromagnetic induction.
Results: The mean follow-up was 28 months (range 2 to 55). The prostheses were lengthened by a mean of 47.4 mm (range 0.5 to 208) and maintained a mean knee flexion of 110 degrees (range 90 to 120 degrees).
Complications developed in seven patients: two implants failed requiring revision, one peri-prosthetic fracture occurred, one developed a flexion deformity of 25 degrees at the knee joint, which was subsequently overcome and three died of disseminated disease.
Discussion: The medium term results from patients treated with this device have continued to show a promising outcome. Four patients successfully completed desired lengthening, six patients are continuing with ongoing lengthening. The implant avoids multiple surgical procedures, general anaesthesia and assists in maintaining leg-length equality.
Correspondence should be addressed to BOOS c/o British Orthopaedic Association, 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE, England
