Abstract
Background: Malignant tumours of the radius compose only 3% of all upper limb tumours. Owing to their rarity they are often difficult to manage satisfactorily. Of the options for fixation available, endo-prosthetic replacements have been scarcely utilized despite their success in limb preservation with malignant tumours in other parts of the body. At our centre we have used these when biological solutions (eg fibula graft) were not indicated due to extensive disease or the need for radiotherapy.
Patients: We performed four endoprosthetic replacements of the distal radius in three males and one female with ages ranging from 19–66 years (average= 42.25 years of age). Two were performed for varieties of osteosarcoma (parosteal and osteoblastic osteosarcomas), one for a large destructive giant cell tumour (GCT) and one for destructive renal metastases. Three were right sided (75%) and one left sided (25%).
Methods: Medical records were evaluated for information on local recurrence, metastases, complications and functional outcome using the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS).
Results: Follow up ranged from 22 to 205 months (average= 116.5 months). The average TESS score was 58.1% (range= 44.6–74.5%). Neither case of osteosarcoma recurred. The GCT recurred twice and the patient with renal metastases had nodules removed from his affected wrist on two further occasions. There were no cases of infection, but one of the earlier cases had problems with metacarpal stems cutting out and joint subluxation. The two earlier cases have since died at 205 (parosteal osteosarcoma) and 189 months (GCT) respectively of other disease.
Conclusions: We conclude that although this is a very small series of endoprosthetic replacement of the distal radius, the technique is a useful addition to the surgical options, with acceptable post-operative functional results and complication rates when a biological solution or preservation of the wrist joint is not indicated.
The abstracts were prepared by Mr Matt Costa and Mr Ben Ollivere. Correspondence should be addressed to Mr Costa at Clinical Sciences Research Institute, University of Warwick, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK.
