Aims. Survival rates and local control after resection of a sarcoma of the pelvis compare poorly to those of the limbs and have a high incidence of complications. The outcome for patients who need a hindquarter amputation (HQA) to treat a pelvic sarcoma is poor. Our aim was to evaluate the patient, tumour, and reconstructive factors that affect the survival of the patients who undergo HQA for primary or recurrent pelvic sarcoma. Methods. We carried out a retrospective review of all sarcoma patients who had undergone a HQA in a supraregional sarcoma unit between 1996 and 2018. Outcomes included oncological, surgical, and survival characteristics. Results. A total of 136 patients, with a mean age of 51 (12 to 83) underwent HQA, 91 for a bone sarcoma and 45 for a soft tissue sarcoma. The overall survival (OS) after primary HQA for a bone sarcoma was 90.7 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 64.1 to 117.2). In patients undergoing a secondary salvage HQA it was 90.3 months (95% CI 58.1 to 122.5) (p = 0.727). For those treated for a soft tissue sarcoma (STS), the mean OS was 59.3 months (95% CI 31.1 to 88.6) for patients with a primary HQA, and 12.5 months (95% CI 9.4 to 15.5) for those undergoing a secondary salvage HQA (p = 0.038). On multivariate analysis, high histological grade (hazard ratio (HR) 2.033, 95% CI 1.127 to 3.676; p = 0.018) and a diagnosis of STS (HR 1.653, 95% CI 1.027 to 2.660; p = 0.039) were associated with a poor prognosis. The 30-day mortality for patients with curative intent was 0.8% (1/128). For those in whom surgery was carried out with palliative intent it was 33.3% (2/6) (p = 0.001). In total, 53.7% (n = 73) of patients had at least one complication with 23.5% (n = 32) requiring at least one further operation. Direct closure was inferior to flap reconstruction in terms of complete primary wound healing (60.0% (3/5) vs 82.0% (82/100); p = 0.023). Conclusion. In carefully selected patients HQA is associated with satisfactory overall survival, with a low risk of perioperative mortality, but considerable morbidity. However, caution must be exercised when considering the procedure for palliation due to the high incidence of early postoperative mortality. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(6):788–794

We evaluate the outcome (Functional, Oncological, and complications) after resection of pelvic sarcoma and reconstruction with the saddle prosthesis. Twenty-seven patients with a mean follow up of forty-five months. Fourteen patients were free of disease, eleven patients were deceased, and two patients were alive with disease. MSTS 93 was 51 %, MSTS 87 was15%, and TESS was 64 %. Infection occurred in ten, fracture in six, and dislocation in six patients. Vertical migration stabilized after two years. Five patients were retired, five had full-time employment, six were disabled, and eleven were deceased. Reconstruction with saddle prosthesis following resection for pelvic sarcoma is associated with significant morbidity. Treatment of pelvic sarcoma is difficult. Of many techniques described for reconstruction of the pelvis following tumor resection, limited data exists to compare functional results. To evaluate the outcome after resection of pelvic sarcoma and reconstruction with the saddle prosthesis. This retrospective study includes twenty-seven patients who underwent saddle prosthetic reconstruction for pelvic sarcoma. Functional outcome was assessed with MSTS 1987 & 1993 and the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS). Oncological outcome parameters and complications were recorded. We reviewed twenty-seven patients with a mean follow up of forty-five months. Seven (26%) patients underwent type II (periacetabular) pelvic resection, twenty had type II & III (periacetabular and pubis). Eleven patients received chemotherapy. None received radiation. Fourteen patients were free of disease, eleven patients were deceased, and two patients were alive with disease. The survival rate was 60%, 22% had local recurrence, and 22% had metastasis. Functional evaluation was completed in seventeen patients and the mean for MSTS 93 was 50.8 %, the MSTS 87 was15.3%, and the TESS was 64.4 %. Infection occurred in ten cases, and there were five nerve palsies. Heterotopic ossification occurred in ten, fracture in six, and dislocation in six patients. Limb shortening was initially progressive but stabilized after two years and ultimately ranged between one and six centimeters. Five patients were retired, five had full-time employment, six were disabled, and eleven were deceased. Reconstruction with saddle prosthesis following resection for pelvic sarcoma is associated with significant morbidity. However the functional results appear to confer an advantage when compared to the significant disability following hemipelvectomy

Aims. Iliosacral sarcoma resections have been shown to have high rates of local recurrence (LR) and poor overall survival. There is also no universal classification for the resection of pelvic sarcomas invading the sacrum. This study proposes a novel classification system and analyzes the survival and risk of recurrence, when using this system. Methods. This is a retrospective analysis of 151 patients (with median follow-up in survivors of 44 months (interquartile range 12 to 77)) who underwent hemipelvectomy with iliosacral resection at a single centre between 2007 and 2019. The proposed classification differentiates the extent of iliosacral resection and defines types S1 to S6 (S1 resection medial and parallel to the sacroiliac joint, S2 resection through the ipsilateral sacral lateral mass to the neuroforamina, S3 resection through the ipsilateral neuroforamina, S4 resection through ipsilateral the spinal canal, and S5 and S6 contralateral sacral resections). Descriptive statistics and the chi-squared test were used for categorical variables, and the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were performed. Results. Resections were S1 in 25/151 patients (17%), S2 in 70/151 (46%), S3 in 33/151 (22%), S4 in 77/151 (11%), S5 in 4/151 (3%), and S6 in 2/151 (1%). An internal hemipelvectomy was performed in 113/151 patients (75%), and 38/151 patients (25%) had an external hemipelvectomy. The predominant types of sarcoma were high-grade osteosarcoma in 48/151 patients (32%), chondrosarcoma in 41/151 (27%), Ewing sarcoma in 33/151 (22%), pleomorphic sarcoma in 17/151 (11%), and others in 2/151 (8%). LR was found in 24/151 patients (15%) with S3, S5, with S6 resections showing the highest rate of LR (p = 0.038). Overall, 19/151 patients (16%) had evidence of metastastic disease at the time of surgery and these patients showed poorer survival when compared to patients with no metastasis. Conclusion. The proposed classification can help to report and compare different surgical and reconstructive approaches in these difficult cases who are still have a considerable risk of LR. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(2):290–296

Purpose: Case to highlight the difficulties and delays in diagnosing pelvic soft tissue tumours.

Introduction: A 32 year old female presented with long standing lower back pain. She had a history of a road traffic accident four years prior which lead to a splenectomy. Over the next few years she had intermittent episodes of increasing pain in the lower back, groin and right leg. These symptoms were attributed to the RTA and she was given a course of physiotherapy.

There were no focal neurological signs and lumbar spine movements were normal. However, she did have some pain inhibition in her proximal muscles and difficulty weight bearing in her leg.

Lumbar spine x-rays showed grade II spondylolytic spondylolisthesis at L5/S1. MR scan of the lumbar spine confirmed this with some facet joint degeneration. She was sent back for more physiotherapy.

Six months later she presented with increasing pain in the right hip and a lump in the right groin. Subsequent MR scan showed a large 20cm x 15cm x 10cm lobulated soft tissue mass within the right obturator space extending through the foramen to lie in the adductor space with infiltration into right hip joint. She had a radical resection but later developed lung metastases.

Conclusion: This case highlights the difficulties in diagnosing pelvic soft tissue tumours especially with lower back pain. We should have a high index of suspicion in all young patients who present with intermittent flare up of groin/pelvic pain and no sign of inflammatory pathology. Once cutaneous signs appear it is often too late.

Aims. Internal hemipelvectomy without reconstruction of the pelvis is a viable treatment for pelvic sarcoma; however, the time it takes to return to excellent function is quite variable. Some patients require greater time and rehabilitation than others. To determine if psoas muscle recovery is associated with changes in ambulatory function, we retrospectively evaluated psoas muscle size and limb-length discrepancy (LLD) before and after treatment and their correlation with objective functional outcomes. Methods. T1-weighted MR images were evaluated at three intervals for 12 pelvic sarcoma patients following interval hemipelvectomy without reconstruction. Correlations between the measured changes and improvements in Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and gait speed outcomes were assessed both independently and using a stepwise multivariate regression model. Results. Increased ipsilesional psoas muscle size from three months postoperatively to latest follow-up was positively correlated with gait speed improvement (r = 0.66). LLD at three months postoperatively was negatively correlated with both TUG (r = -0.71) and gait speed (r = -0.61). Conclusion. This study suggests that psoas muscle strengthening and minimizing initial LLD will achieve the greatest improvements in ambulatory function. LLD and change in hip musculature remain substantial prognostic factors for achieving the best clinical outcomes after internal hemipelvectomy. Changes in psoas size were correlated with the amount of functional improvement. Several patients in this study did not return to their preoperative ipsilateral psoas size, indicating that monitoring changes in psoas size could be a beneficial rehabilitation strategy. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(3):323–330

Aims. Limb salvage for pelvic sarcomas involving the acetabulum is a major surgical challenge. There remains no consensus about what is the optimum type of reconstruction after resection of the tumour. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcomes in these patients according to the methods of periacetabular reconstruction. Methods. The study involved a consecutive series of 122 patients with a periacetabular bone sarcoma who underwent limb-salvage surgery involving a custom-made prosthesis in 65 (53%), an ice-cream cone prosthesis in 21 (17%), an extracorporeal irradiated autograft in 18 (15%), and nonskeletal reconstruction in 18 (15%). Results. The rates of major complications necessitating further surgery were 62%, 24%, 56%, and 17% for custom-made prostheses, ice-cream cone prostheses, irradiated autografts and nonskeletal reconstructions, respectively (p = 0.001). The ten-year cumulative incidence of failure of the reconstruction was 19%, 9%, 33%, and 0%, respectively. The major cause of failure was deep infection (11%), followed by local recurrence (6%). The mean functional Musculoskeletal Tumour Society (MSTS) scores were 59%, 74%, 64%, and 72%, respectively. The scores were significantly lower in patients with major complications than in those without complications (mean 52% (SD 20%) vs 74% (SD 19%); p < 0.001). For periacetabular resections involving the ilium, the mean score was the highest with custom-made prostheses (82% (SD 10%)) in patients without any major complication; however, nonskeletal reconstruction resulted in the highest mean scores (78% (SD 12%)) in patients who had major complications. For periacetabular resections not involving the ilium, significantly higher mean scores were obtained with ice-cream cone prostheses (79% (SD 17%); p = 0.031). Conclusion. Functional outcome following periacetabular reconstruction is closely associated with the occurrence of complications requiring further surgery. For tumours treated with periacetabular and iliac resection, skeletal reconstruction may result in the best outcomes in the absence of complications, whereas nonskeletal reconstruction is a reasonable option if the risk of complications is high. For tumours requiring periacetabular resection without the ilium, reconstruction using an ice-cream cone prosthesis supported by antibiotic-laden cement is a reliable option. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(4):795–803

The February 2014 Oncology Roundup. 360 . looks at: suspicious lesions; limb salvage in pelvic sarcomas; does infection affect oncological survival?; cancer patient pathways; radiological arthritis with cement augmentation in GCT; and post-chemotherapy increase in tumour volume as a predictor of poor prognosis

Purpose: Resection of pelvic sarcoma with limb preservation (internal hemipelvectomy) is a major undertaking. Resection requires large areas of soft-tissue to be removed. Because of wound complications, we manage these defects with immediate tissue transfer (ITT) at the time of resection when a large defect is anticipated. This study compares the outcomes of ITT with primary wound closure (PWC). Method: Twenty patients undergoing 22 separate procedures (1995–2007) were identified in our prospectively maintained database. Demographics, tumour type, operative data and complications, and functional scores (MSTS-1993, TESS) were collected. Results: Twelve defects were managed with ITT, nine with pedicled myocutaneous vertical rectus abdominis (VRAM) flaps (one received double VRAM flaps due to the large defect), two with tensor fascia lata (TFL) rotation flaps (one augmented by local V-Y advancement, the other with gluteus maximus rotation flap) and one received latissimus dorsi free tissue transfer. Four wound complications necessitated operative intervention in this group: two debrided VRAM flaps went on to heal and the two TFL flaps required revision: one to VRAM flap and the other to a latissimus dorsi free flap which ultimately suffered chronic infection and hindquarter amputation was performed. Ten defects were managed with PWC, and 5 wound complications occurred, all five suffered infection, one developed hematoma and one dehisced. One wound resolved with debridement, two healed after revision to pedicled gracilis and gluteus maximus myocutaneous flaps. Two patients were converted to hindquarter amputation due to chronic infection. Functional scores were collected on 8 of 12 living patients, at time of writing. The mean TESS scores were 83 and 73 in the ITT and PWC groups. Five patients in the ITT and 3 in the PWC group were deceased. Conclusion: Soft-tissue closure following pelvic sarcoma resection remains a difficult challenge, and our experience reflects that. There were fewer wound complications (33% v 50%) and slightly better function with ITT than PWC, but this was not statistically significant due to the small size of our study. Although small, this study suggests ITT should be considered whenever a large soft tissue defect is anticipated

Reconstruction of pelvic bone defect after resection for bone tumours is a challenging procedure especially when the hip joint is involved due to the anatomy and the complex biomechanical and structural function of the pelvic ring. This surgery is associated to high complication rate. The additive 3D printing technology allows us to produce trabecular titanium custom based implants with an accurate planning of resection using bone cutting jigs. From August 2013 to January 2017, we treated 8 patients for bone pelvic sarcoma with custom-made osteotomy jigs (Nylon) and custom-made trabecular titanium prosthesis produced through rapid prototyping technology based on mirroring of the contralateral hemipelvis. Mean follow up time was 18 months (range 2–30) Wide margins were obtained in all cases, in one a local recurrence developed. Surgical time was 4 hours average (from 180 to 250 mins). No postoperative complications were reported. Rapid prototyping is a promising technique in order to achieve wide surgical margins and restore the anatomy in pelvic bone tumour resection as well as reducing complications

Pelvic sarcomas are uncommon and pose considerable challenges to surgery. Tumour resections necessarily lead to destabilisation of the pelvic ring and this is believed to have a negative impact on lower limb function. Depending on the type of resection, there are a number of innovative reconstructions that can re-establish pelvic stability and optimise limb function. Conservative approaches that ignore pelvic instability are also employed and these may be applied following type I, I+II, II+III, I+II+III resections. These reconstructions include ilio-femoral and ilio-ischial athrodeses. On occasions, no reconstruction may be employed. Outcomes following minimal reconstructive efforts remain unclear. Reconstructing the pelvic ring may not be necessary in all cases to achieve satisfactory function

The April 2024 Oncology Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Midterm outcomes of total hip arthroplasty after internal hemipelvectomy and iliofemoral arthrodesis; Intraosseous conventional central chondrosarcoma does not metastasize irrespective of grade in pelvis, scapula, and in long bone locations; Oncological and functional outcomes after resection of malignant tumours of the scapula; Reconstruction following oncological iliosacral resection – a comparison of techniques; Does primary tumour resection improve survival for patients with sarcomas of pelvic bones, sacrum, and coccyx who have metastasis at diagnosis?; Older patients with Ewing’s sarcoma: an analysis of the National Cancer Database; Diagnostic challenges in low-grade central osteosarcoma; Effect of radiotherapy on local recurrence, distant metastasis, and overall survival in 1,200 limb soft-tissue sarcoma patients: a retrospective analysis using inverse probability of treatment weighting-adjusted models.

The February 2024 Oncology Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Does primary tumour resection improve survival for patients with sarcomas of the pelvis with metastasis at diagnosis?; Proximal femur replacements for an oncologic indication offer a durable endoprosthetic reconstruction option: a 40-year experience; The importance of awaiting biopsy results in solitary pathological proximal femoral fractures: do we need to biopsy solitary pathological fractures?; Effect of radiotherapy on local recurrence, distant metastasis, and overall survival in 1,200 extremity soft-tissue sarcoma patients; What to choose in bone tumour resections? Patient-specific instrumentation versus surgical navigation; Optimal timing of re-excision in synovial sarcoma patients: immediate intervention versus waiting for local recurrence; Survival differences of patients with resected extraskeletal osteosarcoma receiving two different (neo) adjuvant chemotherapy regimens; Solitary versus multiple bone metastases in the appendicular skeleton: should the surgical treatment be different?.

Limb Salvage surgery is the preferred treatment for malignant tumours of bone. This may require resection – arthrodesis, endoprosthetic replacement or allograft reconstruction. We have re-implanted the patient’s bone for reconstruction of the defect after debulking the tumour and irradiation in ten patients. All had grade IIB sarcomas of the pelvis, humerus, tibia and metacarpal. Median overall survival was 24 months (maximum 69 months). Four patients are alive at the most recent follow-up. One of them has metastatic disease and local recurrence while others remain free of disease. One patient has had pathological fracture through the irradiated bone that healed with conservative measures. One developed avascular necrosis of the femoral head and required resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip. The pelvic sarcoma continues to be a challenge. Resection, extracorporal irradiation and re-implantation may offer some hope but remain experimental

Purpose. Durable fixation may be difficult to achieve when significant bone loss is present, as it occurs in pelvic sarcoma resection and revision surgery of tumor implants. Purpose of this study was to review clinical results of primary and revision surgery of the pelvis and lower extremity in the setting of severe bone loss following limb salvage procedures for bone sarcoma using modular porous tantalum implants. Method. Retrospective study of 15 patients (nine females, six males) undergoing primary or revision pelvic reconstruction (five patients) or revision surgery of a tumor implant of the hip (five patients), knee (four patients), and ankle (one patient) using porous tantalum implants was undertaken. Reason for the tumor implant was resection of bone sarcoma in 13 cases and tumor-like massive bone loss in the remaining two cases. Cause for revision was aseptic failure (nine patients) or deep infection (six patients); average age at the time of surgery was 31 years (16–61 yrs). Revision was managed in a staged fashion in all the six infected cases. All patients presented severe combined segmental and cavitary bone defects. Bone loss was managed in all patients using porous tantalum implants as augmentation of residual bone stock and associated with a megaprosthesis in eight cases (five proximal femur, two distal femur, one proximal tibia). Average follow-up was 4.5 years for hip/knee implants and 2.5 yrs for pelvic reconstructions (range 1–6.8 yrs). Minimum follow-up of two years was available in 11 cases. Results. Infection recurred in one of the six cases managed for infection, requiring further treatment but allowing retention of the porous tantalum implant. All the patients showed well-fixed and functioning implants at latest follow-up. Conclusion. Porous tantalum has been very successful at early follow-up in patients with severe bone loss following primary and revision tumor-related surgery of the pelvis and lower extremity. Longer follow-up is required to appreciate long-term shortcomings

Aims

Controversy exists as to what should be considered a safe resection margin to minimize local recurrence in high-grade pelvic chondrosarcomas (CS). The aim of this study is to quantify what is a safe margin of resection for high-grade CS of the pelvis.

Introduction. The pelvis has always been a difficult area for surgeons, with high complication rates from surgery and the perception of poor oncological outcomes. The aim of the study was to look at the surgical and oncological outcomes of pelvic tumours treated at our centre. Methods. From the 3100 primary bone tumours seen at the ROH. Information was retrieved on 539 patients seen with a primary bone tumour of the pelvis. The demographic details, oncological and surgical outcomes were reviewed. Results. The mean age at presentation (39 yrs old) and duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis (30 weeks) were both significantly greater than the appendicular skeleton. The volume at resection was 3.8 times greater than the appendicular skeleton. The rates of wide surgical margins and response to chemotherapy were significantly poorer (p<0.05) than the appendicular skeleton resulting in rates of local recurrence (27% vs 12%, p<0.05) and overall survival that were poorer that the appendicular skeleton (51% vs 31% 10 yr survival, p<0.05). The dilemma of treating pelvic ewings will be discussed together with the subanalysis of the EICESS 92/EUROEWING 99 trials in relation to pelvic ewings sarcoma. Conclusions. Despite poorer oncological outcomes surgical resection of pelvic tumours can deliver good oncological and surgical results but has high complication rates compared to tumours of the appendicular skeleton

Presentation of two cases of pelvic periacetabular sarcoma, which were treated with wide resection of the tumor, pelvic reconstruction and lower limb salvage. Two patients, one male 23 y.o. with chondrosarcoma and one female 75 y.o. with chondroblastic osteosarcoma, were treated in our clinic. Both tumors were stage II according to Enneking’s classification. Both tumors were treated with Enneking type II internal hemipelvectomy due to their periacetabular localization. After wide resection of tumors, pelvic deficit was reconstructed with allograft, which was internally fixated, and total hip replacement with constrained prosthesis. Clinical evaluation showed absence of pain and satisfactory function of the limb. Imaging evaluation with x-ray, 3D-scan kai MRI showed satisfactory position and condition of allograft and internal fixation without evidence of loosening. Non weight bearing mobilization commenced 3 weeks postoperatively. Internal hemipelvectomy requires precise preoperative planning and surgical knowledge because it is technically demanding due to complex structure of the pelvis, the great number of muscular attachments and the presence of important vessels, nerves and pelvic viscera. Wide pelvic resection and reconstruction with allograft for periacetabular sarcomas is a challenging procedure, which offers the opportunity of limb salvage associated with functional outcome

Trochlear dysplasia is a developmental condition characterised by an abnormally flat or dome shaped trochlea and is an important contributing factor to patellofemoral instability and recurrent patellar dislocation. We prospectively studied a cohort of 54 consecutive patients (59 knees) with patellofemoral instability secondary to trochlear dysplasia, treated with a trochleoplasty by a single surgeon over a 5 year period. Patients were recruited from the senior author's specialist knee clinic and pre-operatively, multiple patient-centred scores were recorded. After the trochleoplasty, these were repeated along with a patient satisfaction questionnaire. Of the 54 patients and 59 knees operated, 39 of the patients (44 knees) were female and 15 (15 knees) male and 40 patients (42 knees) had follow-up of 12 months or more. Their mean age at surgery was 21 years and 6 months and mean length of follow up 2 years. One patient was unable to attend for follow up due to the development of a pelvic Ewings sarcoma. A statistically significant improvement in outcomes was demonstrated when the pre and post-operative scores were compared (mean scores of Oxford 26 to 19, WOMAC 23 to 17, IKDC 54 to 72, Kujala 62 to 76, Lysholm 57 to 78, p values <0.001 for all scores). 93% (50 patients) were satisfied with the outcome of their procedure. We conclude that in the short and medium term, the results of trochleoplasty are encouraging in this challenging group of patients

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the local recurrence rate at an extended follow-up in patients following navigated resection of primary pelvic and sacral tumours.