ACRYLIC RECONSTRUCTION AFTER EN BLOC RESECTION OF ILIAC BONE FOR SARCOMA

Abstract

Introduction: Location on iliac bone account for 20% to 30% of sarcomas. Gold standard of local treatment is wide resection but till now few papers tried to evaluate the long term results of reconstructive procedures when chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are used.

Patients: 44 patients (25 males and 19 females aged 9 to 66 years) with bone sarcoma of innominate bone in Zone 1, 2 or 4 (without involvement of acetabulum) were treated and/or followed up by the same team in 23 years. Histology was: chondrosarcoma (28), Ewing (13), osteosarcoma (2), MH (1)

Preoperative screening of patients included standard X rays, CT and bone technetium scan in all cases and MRI in 15 cases. Diagnosis was made by open biopsy except for 4 cases of chondrosarcoma for these preoperative screening was sufficient (and diagnosis confirmed by postoperative histological examination).

Following limb salvage using reconstruction of pelvis was performed with methyl metacrylate without prosthesis Titanium screws were inserted in remaining bone before moulding of acrylic cement (2 to 3 packs of antibiotic loaded cement).

Results: With a median follow-up of 15 years (minimal 2- maximal 22). 11 patients died from disease after local recurrence (6) and/or metastases (7). One disease free survivor has been lost for follow after 3 years,1 patient is alive with disease. The 31 others are disease free survivors.

Prognostic value: in our patients the prognosis was directly correlated with the histological grading (low grade chondrosarcoma have a 85% DFS) and for high grade tumours with the efficacy of the chemotherapy protocol. For primary metastatic patients, when chemotherapy is suboptimal or margins contaminated, the prognosis is dismal. With our most effective protocols and free margins, metastatic lesions did not affect the disease free survival of our patients.

Orthopaedic results: weight bearing was immediate in all cases. We observed 3 deep infections (2 compelled to make resection of the cement) and 2 late mobilisations of cement. In all other patients, the reconstructive procedure gave a good and stable functional result even in very long follow up.

Conclusion: Acrylic reconstruction is an easy and reliable reconstructive procedure after en bloc resection of iliac bone for malignant tumours in zone 1, 2 or 4. It is more reliable than bone graft when chemotherapy or radiotherapy are necessary.