Aims

Given the possible radiation damage and inaccuracy of radiological investigations, particularly in children, ultrasound and superb microvascular imaging (SMI) may offer alternative methods of evaluating new bone formation when limb lengthening is undertaken in paediatric patients. The aim of this study was to assess the use of ultrasound combined with SMI in monitoring new bone formation during limb lengthening in children.

Aims. Preserving growth following limb-salvage surgery of the upper limb in children remains a challenge. Vascularized autografts may provide rapid biological incorporation with the potential for growth and longevity. In this study, we aimed to describe the outcomes following proximal humeral reconstruction with a vascularized fibular epiphyseal transfer in children with a primary sarcoma of bone. We also aimed to quantify the hypertrophy of the graft and the annual growth, and to determine the functional outcomes of the neoglenofibular joint. Patients and Methods. We retrospectively analyzed 11 patients who underwent this procedure for a primary bone tumour of the proximal humerus between 2004 and 2015. Six had Ewing’s sarcoma and five had osteosarcoma. Their mean age at the time of surgery was five years (two to eight). The mean follow-up was 5.2 years (1 to 12.2). Results. The overall survival at five and ten years was 91% (confidence interval (CI) 95% 75% to 100%). At the time of the final review, ten patients were alive. One with local recurrence and metastasis died one-year post-operatively. Complications included seven fractures, four transient nerve palsies, and two patients developed avascular necrosis of the graft. All the fractures presented within the first postoperative year and united with conservative management. One patient had two further operations for a slipped fibular epiphysis of the autograft, and a hemi-epiphysiodesis for lateral tibial physeal arrest. Hypertrophy and axial growth were evident in nine patients who did not have avascular necrosis of the graft. The mean hypertrophy index was 65% (55% to 82%), and the mean growth was 4.6 mm per annum (2.4 to 7.6) in these nine grafts. At final follow-up, the mean modified functional Musculoskeletal Tumour Society score was 77% (63% to 83%) and the mean Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS) was 84% (65% to 94%). Conclusion. Vascularized fibular epiphyseal transfer preserves function and growth in young children following excision of the proximal humerus for a malignant bone tumour. Function compares favourably to other limb-salvage procedures in children. Longer term analysis is required to determine if this technique proves to be durable into adulthood. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:535–41

Aims. Extendible endoprostheses have been available for more than 30 years and have become more sophisticated with time. The latest generation is ‘non-invasive’ and can be lengthened with an external magnetic force. Early results have shown a worryingly high rate of complications such as infection. This study investigates the incidence of complications and the need for further surgery in a cohort of patients with a non-invasive growing endoprosthesis. Patients and Methods. Between 2003 and June 2014, 50 children (51 prostheses) had a non-invasive growing prosthesis implanted for a primary bone sarcoma. The minimum follow-up was 24 months for those who survived. Their mean age was 10.4 years (6 to 14). The incidence of complications and further surgery was documented. Results. The mean follow-up was 64 months (20 to 145). The overall survivorship of the patients was 84% at three years and 70% at five years. Revision-free survival was 81.7% at three years and 61.6% at five years with competing risk analysis. Deep infection occurred in 19.6% of implants at a mean of 12.5 months (0 to 55). Other complications were a failure of the lengthening mechanism in five prostheses (9.8%) and breakage of the implant in two (3.9%). Overall, there were 53 additional operations (0 to 5 per patient). A total of seven patients (14%) underwent amputation, three for local recurrence and four for infection. Their mean limb length discrepancy was 4.3 mm (0 to 25) and mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score functional score was 26.5 (18 to 30) at the final follow-up. Conclusions. When compared with previously published early results, this mid-term series has shown continued good functional outcomes and compensation for leg-length discrepancy. Infection is still the most common complication: post-operative wound healing problems, central line infection and proximal tibial location are the main risk factors. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1697–1703

Type BI rotationplasty is currently indicated for children with tumours of the proximal femur whereas type BIIIa rotationplasty is reserved for those in which the entire femur has to be removed. Our aim was to compare these two types of rotationplasty and determine whether the knee should be preserved in children with tumours of the proximal femur. We compared the post-operative complications, oncological outcome, range of movement, Enneking score and radiographs of six children, who had undergone type BI rotationplasty with those of 12 who had undergone type BIIIa rotationplasty.

Patients with type BI rotationplasty had a mean Enneking score of 21.6 compared with 24.4 in those with type BIIIa rotationplasty, and worse mean results in all of the parameters investigated. We conclude that type BI rotationplasty has a worse functional outcome and more complications than type BIIIa rotationplasty in children under the age of ten years.