Objectives

In this cross sectional study, the impact and the efficacy of a surveillance programme for sarcomas of the extremities was analysed.

Introduction

CT guided percutaneous radiofrequency thermo coagulation is the treatment of choice for osteoid osteomas. Good results with a low complication rate have been shown for spinal lesions. When lesions are within close proximity to neurological structures or if patients have radicular symptoms surgery rather than radiofrequency ablation has been advocated. We present our experience of radiofrequency ablation of spinal osteoid osteomas which are less than 5mm from neurological structures, including those causing radicular symptoms.

Simple bone cysts are relatively common in children. When they present to a musculoskeletal oncology unit, they are usually treated by a variety of methods that range from observations following fracture to surgically curettage. The outcome is usually good.

Very little is written in the literature regarding adults with a cystic bone lesion.

We present 10 consecutive skeletally mature patients who presented with a benign cystic bone lesion. The mean age at diagnosis was 38 years (20–60 years). Three patients has a cyst in the foot, three in the hip, two in the knee, one in the pelvis and the remainder in the shoulder. Full work up, including biopsy, was performed in all cases. All hip lesions required internal fixation for actual or impending fractures. The average follow up was 1.5 years. The surgical outcome was good in all cases.

The histological features are similar in all cases. Cementum, as found in Unicameral Bone Cysts, is not seen. This may present a new entity that is not described in the literature.

Introduction

Chondroblastomas are rare bone tumours accounting for approximately 1% of all benign bone lesions. They occur in children and adolescents and are more frequent in males.

The conventional treatment for chondroblastomas is surgery, however, this can be difficult and disabling due to the apo- or epiphyseal location. Surgery is curative in most cases, but recurrence rates of 10%–35% have been reported in the literature. Radiofrequency ablation is well established in the treatment of osteoid osteomas and painful bone metastases. We report our experience with the use of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of chondroblastomas.

Objective

To evaluate the rise in impedance during percutaneous radiofrequency thermo coagulation (PRFTC) of osteoid osteomas as a predictor of local recurrence.

Introduction

Enchondromas located in the phalangeal bones may be more cellular than non-digital locations necessitating clinical and radiological correlation to determine diagnosis. Atypical enchondromas have increased cellularity and atypia relative to simple enchondromas but no evidence of permeation. Chondrosarcomas of the phalanges are thought to have a more indolent course than chondrosarcomas in other locations. The aim of the study was to determine the outcome of atypical enchondromas and grade 1 chondrosarcomas of the phalanges treated surgically.

Periarticular metastasis may be treated with endoprosthetic reconstruction. The extensive surgery required may not, however, be appropriate for all patients. Our aim was to establish if the outcome of locking plate fixation in selected patients with periarticular metastases.

Prospective data collection was performed. Twenty one patients underwent surgery for periarticular metastatic tumours. The median duration of follow-up for surviving patients was one year. There have been no cases of implant failure and no requirement for revision surgery. Pain relief was excellent or good in the majority of patients. Patients who had sustained a fracture prior to fixation had restoration of their WHO performance status. All patients had a dramatic improvement in their MSTS scores. The median pre-operative score was 15% (0%-37%) improving to a median score of 80% (75% -96%) post operatively.

Locking plates provide reliable fixation and excellent functional restoration in selected patients suffering from periarticular metastatic bone disease.

CT guided percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation is the treatment of choice for osteoid osteomas. Good results with a low complication rate have been shown for spinal lesions. When lesions are within close proximity to neurological structures or if patients have radicular symptoms surgery rather than radiofrequency ablation has been advocated. We present our experience of radiofrequency ablation of spinal osteoid osteomas which are less than 5mm from neurological structures, including those causing radicular symptoms.

Data was collected prospectively on all patients with a spinal osteoid osteoma within 5mm of nerve roots or the spinal cord as measured on CT scanning.

There were nine patients, five female and four male with a mean age of 15 years. Four tumours were located in the thoracic spine, three in the lumbar spine and two in the cervical spine. The mean distance to the nearest neurological structure was 3mm. Radicular symptoms were present in two patients. The mean number of probe positions used was two. Lesions were heated to 90 degrees for 5 minutes for each probe position. There were two cases of recurrence, both treated successfully with one further procedure each. There were no cases of neurological injury. The two patients with radicular symptoms had full resolution of their symptoms. At a mean follow up of 2 years following treatment all patients are asymptomatic.

Radiofrequency ablation can be safely performed to treat osteoid osteomas located within 5mm of neurological structures and has a low rate of recurrence.

Study Design: Review of patients with massive disc prolapse, with a minimum of 50% canal occlusion, treated non-operatively.

Objectives: To demonstrate the behaviour of massive disc prolapse treated non-operatively.

Subjects: Patients with massive disc prolapse whose symptoms had started to resolve or who had refused surgery.

Outcome Measures: Spontaneous reduction of disc herniation on MRI scans.

Results: There were 10 patients who have had massive lumbar disc prolapse treated non-operatively. All had MRI scans which showed a lumbar disc prolapse occluding greater than 50% of the canal diameter on the axial cuts. The average occlusion of the canal was 62%. Repeat MRI scans showed reduction of the disc prolapse in all cases, with an average of 83% (range 68–100) reduction in the canal occlusion. The scans were performed between 6 and 68 months apart. 9/10 patients had resolution of leg pain. One patient had persistent leg pain despite complete resolution of the disc prolapse. He went on to have an exploration of the right S1 nerve root. No disc prolapse was identified and the S1 root was free and healthy. This however resolved the majority of his leg pain.

Conclusion: We have demonstrated that the natural history, in these cases of massive prolapse was to resolve both clinically and radiologically in the majority of cases.

Aim: To review the early complications associated with staged revision hip Arthroplasty utilising the Biomet antibiotic loaded cement spacer.

Method: We report on 80 consecutive staged revision hip replacements using the Biomet antibiotic loaded cement system in our institution over 3 years (1999–2002), performed by three consultant surgeons, with a minimum 1 year follow up.

Results: Our patients had an average age of 68 (range 48–90) years, with an equal sex distribution.

The median time between the first and second stage was 147 (range 50–619) days.

Fractures of the Biomet antibiotic loaded acrylic spacer occurred in 11% revisions when associated with an increase in time between stages and there was a 7% dislocation rate.

Patients did not receive a revision prosthesis in 19% cases and had early recurrent sepsis following their two stage procedure in 6%. Three patients had a single episode of dislocation of their revision hip prosthesis within a month postoperatively. Two patients had a proximal DVT and one patient had a pulmonary embolus. The mortality within eight weeks was 7%, rising to 10% within a year. This may be related to patient sepsis and comorbidities or the energy expenditure required to mobilise following a first stage procedure that we have analysed.

Conclusions: The risks of staged revision hip surgery for infection are substantial when considering the time involved, the energy expenditure required to mobilise following a first stage, the possibility of not achieving a revision hip prosthesis and the mortality rate.

The Biomet antibiotic loaded cement system articulates and maintains soft tissue length in the majority of patients for the duration required between stages.

Proximal femoral replacement gives reliable relief of pain and return to function in proximal femoral metastases. However, there can be technical problems with reattachment of muscles and tendons to the prosthesis, inadequate reattachment can lead to loss of function and joint stability.

We were keen to establish how effective our current method of abductor reattachment was. All the post operative x-rays of patients who had undergone Stanmore Mets Proximal Femoral Replacement, over the last 2 years at the Royal Shrewsbury and Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospitals, were reviewed. Particular note was made of the position of the trochanteric osteotomy, whether it remained attached or not to the prosthesis.

The Stanmore Mets Proximal Femoral Replacement has a plate which secures the trochanteric osteotomy to the prosthesis. Two screws go through the plate, osteotomy and into the prosthesis..

There were six patients, 4 male and 2 female with a mean age of 67 years. The primary carcinomas included 2 breast, 2 prostate and 1 lung and 1 renal. In five of the six patients the trochanters became detached. In 3 of the 5 patients the trochanter became detached in the first post operative week and by 2 months all 5 trochanters were detached.

We have since changed our method of attachment of the trochanteric osteotomy to the prosthesis to a hooked trochanteric plate. The plate is attached to the prosthesis by wires. Short term follow up of five patients have shown that all the trochanters have remained all attached.