Aim

Aim of this study was to review surgical treatment of femural metastases, comparing nailing versus resection and prosthetic reconstruction.

Purpose: Aim of this study was to analyse the incidence of infection in orthopaedic oncology after major surgical procedures for bone tumors.

Materials and Methods: We included patients with primary sacral tumors treated by major surgical procedure and patients with bone tumors of the upper and lower limb treated by resection and prosthetic reconstruction. Demographic data, surgery, adjuvant treatments, type of reconstruction were analyzed. Special attention was given to the infection: incidence, classification, microbic agents, treatment and outcome. Infections in the first 4 weeks were considered “postoperative”, those in the first 6 months were judged “early”, while “late” those diagnosed after 6 months. Overall 1462 patients treated in one institution from 1076 to 2007. Were considered 1036 patients with tumors of the lower limb, 344 patients with tumors of the upper limb and 82 sacral tumors. Univariate analysis with Kaplan-Meier actuarial curves was used in evaluating risk factors and implant survival to infections.

Results: In the lower limb, infection occurred in 80 cases (7.7%). Most frequent bacteria were gram positive. Infection was postoperative in 9 cases, early in 12, late in 59 cases and generally monomicrobial. Surgical treatment was “two stage” in 73 patients, “one stage” in 4 and primary amputation in 3 cases. Revisions for infection were successful in 63 pts (79%), while 17 pts were amputated (21%).

In the upper limb, in 20 patients (5.8%) a revision for deep infection was required. Two infections were postoperative, 7 early and 11 late. S. Epidermidis and S. Aureo were the most frequent bacteria causing infection (45%). “Two stage” treatment of infection was performed, but a new prostheses was implanted in 3 cases. In 17 the spacer was never removed.

In the sacrum, no deep infections were observed after intralesional excision for giant cell tumors. In 23/52 resections (44%) for chordoma (3 pts. died postoperatively and were excluded), infection occurred: in 16 patients postoperatively, in 7 within 6 months. Bacteria causing infection were mostly gram negative: in 74% of cases infection was multiagent. Surgical treatment consisted in one or more surgical debridements with antibiotics therapy according to coltures: infection healed in all cases.

Conclusion: Infection is a severe complication in prosthetic reconstructions for tumors of the upper and lower limb. Its incidence in the extremities (7.7% and 5.8%) is lower than after sacral surgery (44%). Infections are mostly late, monomicrobial and caused by gram positive in extremities, while early, multimicrobial and caused by gram negative in the sacrum.

From October 2003 to September 2007 at Rizzoli 161 GMRS^® prostheses were implanted after resections of the lower limb. This is a modular system with a knee rotating hinge mechanism, cemented and uncemented stems, in titanium and chromium-cobalt-molybdenum, curved and straight-fluted, with or without hydroxyapatite coating. Adaptors are available to revise HMRS^® prostheses with hybrid implants. This study includes 88 males and 73 females ranging in age from 9 to 80 years. Sites of reconstruction were 109 distal femurs, 19 proximal femurs, 1 total femur and 32 proximal tibias. There were 149 oncologic and 12 non oncologic diagnoses, including 96 primary reconstructions and 65 revisions for failures of previous reconstructions. Analysis of imaging and complications was performed and function assessed according to MSTS system. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to statistically evaluate implant survival.

At a mean follow up of 2.5 yrs. 106 patients are continuously NED, 31 NED after treatment of relapse, 7 AWD, 5 DWD. There were 10 major complications: 8 infections (4.7%) (5 in primary and 3 in secondary implants) and 2 aseptic loosenings (1.2%) (1 each). There were 9 minor complications requiring minor revisions. Comparative statistical analysis of implant survival showed no statistically significant difference between primary and secondary implants. Functional results were good or excellent in 95% of patients, without any poor.

Middle term results are promising with no breakages of implant components. Besides oncological cases, there are selected indications in non oncological settings, such as revisions of prosthetic or allografts failures. While a higher complication rate was expected in secondary implants, statistical analysis shows similar survival.

Chondrosarcomas arising from soft tissues are rare. Two different varieties are described, myxoid and mesenchymal. We have collected nine cases of the tumour, five myxoid and four mesenchymal, from a review of 513 cases of chondrosarcoma seen between 1904 and 1988. We report the principal clinical, radiographical and histological differences between the two varieties and discuss their surgical treatment and prognosis.