We analysed the outcome of patients with primary non-metastatic diaphyseal sarcomas who had en bloc resection with preservation of the adjoining joints and reconstruction with re-implantation of sterilised tumour bone after extracorporeal radiation (50 Gy). Between March 2005 and September 2009, 32 patients (16 Ewing’s sarcoma and 16 osteogenic sarcoma) with a mean age of 15 years (2 to 35) underwent this procedure. The femur was the most common site in 17 patients, followed by the tibia in 11, humerus in three and ulna in one. The mean resected length of bone was 19 cm (10 to 26). A total of 31 patients were available at a mean follow-up of 34 months (12 to 74). The mean time to union for all osteotomy sites was 7.3 months (3 to 28): metaphyseal osteotomy sites united quicker than diaphyseal osteotomy sites (5.8 months (3 to 10) versus 9.5 months (4 to 28)). There were three local recurrences, all in soft-tissue away from irradiated graft. At the time of final follow-up, 19 patients were free of disease, one was alive with disease and 11 had died of disease. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score for 29 patients evaluated at the last follow-up was 26 (9 to 30).

Extracorporeal irradiation is an oncologically safe and inexpensive technique for limb salvage in diaphyseal sarcomas and has good functional results.

Introduction. We analyzed the results of extracorporeal radiated (ECRT) autogenous tumour bone for reconstruction of diaphyseal defects after tumour resection at our institute. Methods. Sixteen diaphyseal bone tumours operated between March 2006 to March 2008 were reconstructed with ECRT bone after appropriate oncologic resection. These included 10 cases of Ewing's sarcoma, 5 of Osteosarcoma and 1 Adamantinoma. Nine involved femur, 5 tibia and 2 humerus. Suitable internal stabilisation (14 cases plate fixation, 2 intramedullary nails) was used after re-implanting ECRT bone. Average resection length was 18.9 cm (range, 11 to 30 cm). Results. There were 32 osteotomy sites in 16 patients. 4 cases with infection resulting in graft removal were excluded. Thus 23 osteotomy sites (one patient had a bipolar prosthesis inserted into re-implanted bone) were analysed for union. The average union time was 6.8 months. 12 metaphyseal sites united at average 6 months and 11 diaphyseal ends at average 7.8 months. 2 cases developed hypertrophic nonunion (both at diaphyseal sites) requiring revision and bone grafting. Reconstruction related complication were seen in 7(43%) out of 16 patients. Infection in 4 cases (25%), required multiple lavages, debridement and ultimately removal of the graft in all. The average follow up was 33 months (range, 27 to 45 months). There were 3 local recurrences (2 bony, 1 soft tissue), none of them in re-implanted bone. Four patients died of metastatic disease and 1 due to unrelated causes. At time of final review all survivors except one were capable of independent ambulation with an average MSTS Score of 26 (range, 18 – 29). Conclusion. Extracorporeal irradiation is an oncologically sound procedure with good functional outcomes. It is a convenient and inexpensive technique for limb salvage avoiding the logistic issues involved in allograft procurement and specialized expertise for microvascular anastomosis