We describe 25 patients who were treated for a tumour of the proximal femur by resection and replacement with an uncemented, bipolar, modular prosthesis. When followed up after more than ten years four prostheses (16%) had required revision. Two joints showed wear and another necrosis of the acetabulum. One patient with loosening of the stem had been treated by radiotherapy to the femur. Articular cartilage seemed to be a reliable barrier to acetabular wear. Very few signs of the formation of particulate debris were observed. The most obvious feature in the bone-stem relationship was stress shielding, seen as osteoporosis of the proximal part of the femur around the stem in 68%. Functional activity was satisfactory in 68% of the patients. A better system of reattachment of the soft tissues is needed to avoid pain and a persistent limp.
We describe 100 consecutive patients with osteoid osteoma. Of the 97 who had operations, 89 were treated by intralesional excision and eight by wide resection. The three remaining patients were not operated on because the osteoid osteoma was almost painless, or was found in the pedicle of the 12th thoracic vertebra at the site of entrance of the artery of Adamkjewicz. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically in all specimens. No local recurrences were observed at a minimum follow-up of one year. All except one patient were mobilised two to four days after surgery. A precise preoperative diagnosis of the lesion is mandatory, based on clinical findings, standard radiographs, thin-section CT and a bone scan. We compared our operative technique with 247 cases in which the percutaneous technique of removal or coagulation of the nidus had been performed. The latter procedure has a less constant rate of primary cure (83%
