The June 2024 Oncology Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Chondrosarcoma of the femur: is local recurrence influenced by the presence of an extraosseous component?; Diagnostic challenges in low-grade central osteosarcoma; Single osteotomy technique for frozen autograft (pedicled freezing) in patients with malignant bone tumours; Unplanned resection for small superficial soft-tissue sarcomas: disastrous or simply bad?; Inactivation and replantation of the knee joint: an infeasible surgical method; Active surveillance of diffuse-type tenosynovial giant cell tumours: a retrospective, multicentre cohort study.

Aims

Isolated acetabular liner exchange with a highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) component is an option to address polyethylene wear and osteolysis following total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the presence of a well-fixed acetabular shell. The liner can be fixed either with the original locking mechanism or by being cemented within the acetabular component. Whether the method used for fixation of the HXLPE liner has any bearing on the long-term outcomes is still unclear.

Aims

Tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT) is a rare benign tumour of the musculoskeletal system. Surgical management is fraught with challenges due to high recurrence rates. The aim of this study was to describe surgical treatment and evaluate surgical outcomes of TGCT at an Australian tertiary referral centre for musculoskeletal tumours and to identify factors affecting recurrence rates.

Aims

To investigate the optimal thresholds and diagnostic efficacy of commonly used serological and synovial fluid detection indexes for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in patients who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Aims

Tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT) is one of the most common soft-tissue tumours of the foot and ankle and can behave in a locally aggressive manner. Tumour control can be difficult, despite the various methods of treatment available. Since treatment guidelines are lacking, the aim of this study was to review the multidisciplinary management by presenting the largest series of TGCT of the foot and ankle to date from two specialized sarcoma centres.

Aims

This paper aims to review the evidence for patient-related factors associated with less favourable outcomes following hip arthroscopy.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to determine the functional outcome and implant survivorship of mobile-bearing total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) performed by a single surgeon.

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and joint function in tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT) patients before and after surgical treatment.

Aims

Intra-articular ⁹⁰Yttrium (⁹⁰Y) is an adjunct to surgical treatment by synovectomy for patients with diffuse-type tenosynovial giant-cell tumour (dtTGCT) of the knee, with variable success rates. Clinical information is, however, sparse and its value remains unclear. We investigated the long-term outcome of patients who underwent synovectomy with and without adjuvant treatment with ⁹⁰Yttrium.

Aims

The aims of this study were to compare the mid-term outcomes of patients with late-stage arthritis of the wrist treated with proximal row carpectomy (PRC) and dorsal capsular interposition (DCI) arthroplasty with a matched cohort treated with routine PRC alone.

The transtrochanteric anterior rotational osteotomy (TRO) was developed by Sugioka as a joint-preserving procedure which prevents further deformity by transposing the necrotic area from a site of primary weight-bearing to a secondary area. We performed this procedure for children and young adults with various hip disorders. Between 1994 and 2015 we performed TROs on 12 joints in 12 patients with SCFE (4), pigmented villonodular synovitis (2), septic arthritis (1), FAI (1), hip dysplasia (1), femoral neck fracture (2) and postoperative RAO (1). The mean age at the time of surgery was 21 years (10–43) and the mean follow-up period was 8 years (1–22). The rotational directions of the femoral head were anterior (5) and posterior (7). Clinical assessment was undertaken using the system of Merle d'Aubigné and Postel, grading pain, mobility and walking ability with scores from 0 to 6. Radiographically bone regeneration and OA progression were estimated. The mean clinical score improved from 9.0 to 14.4 at final follow-up. Spur formation of femoral head was observed in 7 patients (58%). OA progression was in two patients (17%) and one patient was converted to THA 22 years after surgery. All cases with osteonecrosis in SCFE and femoral neck fracture showed remarkable bone regeneration. The TRO is a reliable joint-preserving procedure for various hip disorders in children and young adults

This study presents an unusual recurrent case of pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) around a ceramic-on-metal (COM) hip retrieved at 9-years. PVNS literature relates to metal-polyethylene and ceramic-ceramic bearings. Amstutz reported 2 cases with MOM resurfacing and Xiaomei reported PVNS recurring at 14 years with metal-on-polyethylene THA. Friedman reported on PVNS recurrence in a ceramic THA. Ours may be the first reported case of recurrent PVNS of a ceramic-on-metal articulation. This young female patient (now 38-years of age) had a total hip replacement in 2006 for PVNS in her left hip. In her initial work-up, this case was presumed to be a pseudotumor problem, typical of those related to CoCr debris with high metal-ion concentrations. She had an CoCr stem (AML), 36mm Biolox-delta head (Ceramtec), and a Pinnacle acetabular cup with CoCr liner (Ultramet, Depuy J&J). This patient had no concerns regarding subluxation, dislocation or squeaking. Three years ago she complained of mild to moderate groin and thigh pain in her left hip. This worsened in the past year. She noticed increased swelling now with an asymmetry to her right hip. She went to the emergency room in Dec-2014 and was referred to a plastic surgeon. In our consult we reviewed MARS-MRI and CT-scans that demonstrated multiple mass lesions surrounding the hip. Laboratory results presented Co=0.7, Cr=0.3 ESR=38 and Crp=0.3. At revision surgery, the joint fluid was hemorrhagic/bloody with hemosiderin staining the soft tissues. Multiple large 4–5×5cm nodules were present in anterior aspect of the hip as well as multiple nodules surrounding posterior capsule and sciatic nerve. Pathology demonstrated a very cellular matrix with hemosiderin-stained tissue and multiple giant cells, which was judged consistent with PVNS. The trunnion showed no fretting, no contamination and no discoloration. The superior neck showed impingement due to low-inclination cup. There was minimal evidence of metal-debris staining the tissues. There was a large metallic-like stripe across the ceramic head. This is a particularly interesting case and may be the first reported recurrent PVNS around a ceramic-on-metal bearing (COM). Data is scant regarding clinical results of COM bearings and here we have a nine-year result in a young and active female patient. She was believed to have a metalosis-related pseudotumor yet her metal-ion levels were not alarmingly high and there was no particular evidence of implant damage or gross wear products. In addition, the CoCr trunnion appeared pristine. Our work-up continues with analyses of wear and histopath-evidence. This case may demonstrate the need for a broadening of the differential diagnosis when dealing with hip failures

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare proliferative process of the synovium which most commonly affects the knee and occurs in either a localised (LPVNS) or a diffuse form (DPVNS). The effect of different methods of surgical synovectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy on the rate of recurrence is unclear. We conducted a systematic review and identified 35 observational studies in English which reported the use of surgical synovectomy to treat PVNS of the knee.

A meta-analysis included 630 patients, 137 (21.8%) of whom had a recurrence after synovectomy. For patients with DPVNS, low-quality evidence found that the rate of recurrence was reduced by both open synovectomy (odds ration (OR) = 0.47; 95% CI 0.25 to 0.90; p = 0.024) and combined open and arthroscopic synovectomy (OR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.06 to 0.58; p = 0.003) compared with arthroscopic surgery. Very low-quality evidence found that the rate of recurrence of DPVNS was reduced by peri-operative radiotherapy (OR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.70; p = 0.01). Very low-quality evidence suggested that the rate of recurrence of LPVNS was not related to the surgical approach.

This meta-analysis suggests that open synovectomy or synovectomy combined with peri-operative radiotherapy for DPVNS is associated with a reduced rate of recurrence. Large long-term prospective multicentre observational studies, with a focus on both rate of recurrence and function, are required to confirm these findings.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:550–7.

Cancellous allograft bone chips are commonly used in the reconstruction of defects in bone after removal of benign tumours. We investigated the MRI features of grafted bone chips and their change over time, and compared them with those with recurrent tumour. We retrospectively reviewed 66 post-operative MRIs from 34 patients who had undergone curettage and grafting with cancellous bone chips to fill the defect after excision of a tumour. All grafts showed consistent features at least six months after grafting: homogeneous intermediate or low signal intensities with or without scattered hyperintense foci (speckled hyperintensities) on T1 images; high signal intensities with scattered hypointense foci (speckled hypointensities) on T2 images, and peripheral rim enhancement with or without central heterogeneous enhancements on enhanced images. Incorporation of the graft occurred from the periphery to the centre, and was completed within three years. Recurrent lesions consistently showed the same signal intensities as those of pre-operative MRIs of the primary lesions. There were four misdiagnoses, three of which were chondroid tumours.

We identified typical MRI features and clarified the incorporation process of grafted cancellous allograft bone chips. The most important characteristics of recurrent tumours were that they showed the same signal intensities as the primary tumours. It might sometimes be difficult to differentiate grafted cancellous allograft bone chips from a recurrent chondroid tumour.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:121–8.

The October 2014 Oncology Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: how best to reconstruct humeral tumours; not everything is better via the arthroscope; obesity and sarcoma; frozen autograft; en-bloc resection and metastatic disease; positive margins in soft-tissue injuries; lipomatous tumours explored; and what happens with recurrence of osteosarcoma.

This article provides an overview of the role of genomics in sarcomas and describes how new methods of analysis and comparative screening have provided the potential to progress understanding and treatment of sarcoma. This article reviews genomic techniques, the evolution of the use of genomics in cancer, the current state of genomic analysis, and also provides an overview of the medical, social and economic implications of recent genomic advances.

The June 2013 Foot & Ankle Roundup. 360 . looks at: soft-tissue pain following arthroplasty; pigmented villonodular synovitis of the foot and ankle; ankles, allograft and arthritis; open calcaneal fracture; osteochondral lesions in the longer term; severe infections in diabetic feet; absorbable first ray fixation; and showering after foot surgery

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare benign disease of the synovium of joints and tendon sheaths, which may be locally aggressive. We present 18 patients with diffuse-type PVNS of the foot and ankle followed for a mean of 5.1 years (2 to 11.8). There were seven men and 11 women, with a mean age of 42 years (18 to 73). A total of 13 patients underwent open or arthroscopic synovectomy, without post-operative radiotherapy. One had surgery at the referring unit before presentation with residual tibiotalar PVNS. The four patients who were managed non-operatively remain symptomatically controlled and under clinical and radiological surveillance. At final follow-up the mean Musculoskeletal Tumour Society score was 93.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 85 to 100), the mean Toronto Extremity Salvage Score was 92 (95% CI 82 to 100) and the mean American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons foot and ankle score was 89 (95% CI 79 to 100). The lesion in the patient with residual PVNS resolved radiologically without further intervention six years after surgery. Targeted synovectomy without adjuvant radiotherapy can result in excellent outcomes, without recurrence. Asymptomatic patients can be successfully managed non-operatively. This is the first series to report clinical outcome scores for patients with diffuse-type PVNS of the foot and ankle.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:384–90.

This case series highlights the use of the Ganz approach (trochanteric slide approach) and surgical dislocation for excision of fibrous dysplasia of the femoral neck, pigmented villonodular synovitis and synovial chondromatosis of the hip. The first patient was a 16-year-old girl, who presented with pain in her hip, having fallen whilst playing football. Investigations revealed a fibrous dysplasia, which was successfully excised returning her to an active lifestyle. The second patient was a 27-year-old lady, who presented having suffered left hip pain for four years. She was diagnosed with a pigmented villonodular synovitis, which was excised and the patient was able to return to the gym. The third patient was a 41-year-old lady, who presented after experiencing right hip pain both at night and at rest for a year, without any trauma. She was diagnosed with synovial chondromatosis and returned to all activities of daily living. The Ganz approach allows safe dislocation of the hip joint without the risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. We demonstrate that it is possible to obtain excellent exposure of the femoral neck, head and acetabulum to surgically treat these three tumours of the hip. The surgeon can thus be reassured that complete excision of the tumour has occurred. This series can recommend the Ganz approach with trochanteric slide and full surgical dislocation of the hip to excise pigmented villonodular synovitis, synovial chondromatosis and fibrous dysplasia of the hip