Long-term clinical study to explore the curative effect and mechanism of the treatment of adult chronic osteomyelitis by implant Osteoset T.

The study object were 65 case adult chronic osteomyelitis patient from November 1977 to April 2003 in a University-based hospital. Age ranged from 18 to 69 years old. 40 cases were treated by general debridement (Method I); 25 cases were treated by general debridement and implant Osteoset T in dead space (Methods II). Stage IA(The UTMB Staging System) osteomyelitis 39 cases; The Organism was Staphylococcus Aureus 28 cases. In all cases (group A), 40 cases were treated with Method I (group AI), 25 cases were treated with Method II (group AII). The majority of the patients, 39 resulted as Stage IA (group B); 22 were treated with Method I (group BI) and 17 cases were treated with Method II (groupBII). Finally, 28 patients were chronic Staph Aureus osteomyelitis (Group C); 13 were treated with Method I (group CI) and 15 cases with Method II (group CII); Followed from 36 to 334 months, mean 75.0 months. Then respectively evaluate and analysis analyze the success rate of different method with standard.

The success rate of group BI was 59.09%, group BII was 94.12%, contrast the success rate there was significant difference (p< 0.05). The success rate of group AI was 60.00%, group AII was 80.00%. The success rate of group CI was 46.15%, group CII was 80.00%.

The use of Osteoset T has demostrated better healing rate than left the empty cavity there after debridement and irrigation. Osteoset T can local delivery antibiotic, filler of the dead space, It can be mixed with different antibiotics, reduces the hospitalization time, reduces the number of operation. Unfortunately, Osteoset dos not help with the bone growth.

Introduction: The use of allograft prosthetic composite (APC) of the proximal tibia offers advantages over prosthetic replacement or osteoarticular graft with a better functional outcome since the possibility of a careful soft tissue reconstruction;

Materials and Methods: From 1994 to 2002, 62 APC of the proximal tibia were performed in our department after bone tumor resection (56 malignant bone tumors, 4 cases of previously failed knee implant and 2 stage 3 benign tumors). The patients median age was 18 yrs (range: 11–77 yrs) and the mean resected length was 13.2 cm (range: 8.5–28 cm). The median follow up was 59 months (range: 13–137 months)

Results: In three patients (4,8%) a recurrence was reported at 22, 33 an 40 months and amputation was performed.

Infection was reported in 15 patients (24.2%): 2 early infections (healed with surgical debridment), 1 femoral stem septic loosening (treated with early revision with cemented stem); in 8 cases removal of the infected APC was required followed by implant of a new prosthetic device after cement spacer; two infections did not healed and patient underwent amputation; in two cases a good functional result was achieved removing the infected graft and covering the proximal tibia with cement and no other surgery was required.

Non union of the graft was observed in 8 patients (12.9%): in 4 patients autologous bone grafting was necessary to heal the osteotomy line. In other 3 cases non union was associated with graft fracture. In one case non union was associated with tibial stem loosening and revision of the whole implant was done.

Polyethylene wear was assessed in 5 patients (8%) and revision of the polyethylene components was always required.

Nine patellar tendon rupture (14.5%) were assessed and repaired was performed in seven cases.

The functional outcome of 42 patients with more than two years of follow up was excellent in 25 cases, good in 13, fair in 2 and poor in 2.

Discussion: APC of the proximal tibia is an effective alternative to osteoarticular graft and modular prosthesis because it allows good to excellent results in most of the patients (90.4%). The major concern is infection rate (24.2%) that usually lead to amputation (80%). Non union does not usually represent a problem because it’s tendency to spontaneous or bone grafting induced healing. Aseptic loosening of the tibial or femoral stem is rare. Patellar tendon rupture rate (14.5%) is similar to modular prosthetis rate and can be lowered using a femoral component with patellar groove.