We undertook a prospective study to evaluate the prognostic significance of the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in predicting the survival of patients with osteosarcoma. The levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 15 patients with osteosarcoma before commencing treatment. The patients were divided into two groups, with a high or a low serum VEGF level, and the incidence of metastases and overall survival rate were compared. No significant relationship was observed between the serum VEGF levels and gender, age, the size of the tumour or the response to pre-operative chemotherapy. Patients with a serum VEGF > 1000 pg/ml had significantly worse survival than those with a level < 1000 pg/ml (p = 0.002). The serum VEGF level may be useful in predicting the prognosis for survival in patients with osteosarcoma

Between 1986 and 2002, 42 patients with synchronous multifocal osteosarcoma were treated with two different protocols of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. When feasible, the primary and secondary tumours were excised as a combined procedure. After initial chemotherapy 26 patients were excluded from simultaneous excision of all their secondary bone lesions as their disease was too advanced. In 12 patients only isolated excision of the primary lesion was possible. For 16 patients simultaneous operations were conducted to excise the primary and secondary lesions. This involved two supplementary sites in 15 patients and four additional sites in one patient. Of these, 15 attained remission but 12 relapsed and died (11 within two years). Three patients remained disease-free at five, six and 17 years. The histological response to pre-operative chemotherapy of the primary and secondary lesions was concordant in 13 of the 16 patients who underwent simultaneous operations at more than one site. The prognosis for synchronous multifocal osteosarcoma remains poor despite combined chemotherapy and surgery. The homogeneous histological responses in a large proportion of the primary and secondary lesions implies that synchronous multifocal osteosarcoma tumours are not multicentric in origin, but probably represent bone-to-bone metastases from a single tumour

A review was performed of 86 cases of infantile idiopathic scoliosis treated between 1962 and 1979. The single primary curves were classified as resolving, stable, progressive with a low rib--vertebra angle difference (RVAD) and progressive with a high RVAD. Two single primary curves subsequently developed a second curve and 17 were double when first diagnosed. Prognosis was difficult to establish before the age of five years. Only 18 per cent of curves showing progression beyond 50 degrees reached that point before the age of four. Conversely, if a scoliosis of 50 degrees or more was present before the age of four it always progressed. A more favourable outcome was indicated by male sex, a left-sided curve, a low initial curve measurement, an RVAD of less than 20 degrees in the initial radiograph, and the onset of scoliosis in the first year of life

We compared the prognostic value of the Catterall grouping, the Salter-Thompson grading, the arthrographic shape of the femoral head, and the Herring lateral pillar grouping during the fragmentation stage of Perthes’ disease in 73 patients with 81 affected hips. Radiographs were available for study from the onset of the disease until skeletal maturity. We used the Stulberg classification to assess outcome. The Herring grade and arthrographic sphericity proved to be the best predictors of final outcome. Combining these two values further increased the predictive value. All but one patient in Herring group A achieved an excellent outcome. In Herring group B, the age of the child and the sphericity of the femoral head influenced the end result. If the child was less than seven years old at the onset of symptoms the prognosis was invariably good and all spherical hips in group B had a good outcome with Stulberg grades 1 or 2. Moderately and severely deformed hips on arthrography resulted in Stulberg 3 and 4 hips. None of the hips in Herring group C had a normal appearance at maturity and the outcome was not significantly influenced by the age at onset or the arthrographic appearance

Aims. Proximal femoral endoprosthetic replacements (PFEPRs) are the most common reconstruction option for osseous defects following primary and metastatic tumour resection. This study aimed to compare the rate of implant failure between PFEPRs with monopolar and bipolar hemiarthroplasties and acetabular arthroplasties, and determine the optimum articulation for revision PFEPRs. Methods. This is a retrospective review of 233 patients who underwent PFEPR. The mean age was 54.7 years (SD 18.2), and 99 (42.5%) were male. There were 90 patients with primary bone tumours (38.6%), 122 with metastatic bone disease (52.4%), and 21 with haematological malignancy (9.0%). A total of 128 patients had monopolar (54.9%), 74 had bipolar hemiarthroplasty heads (31.8%), and 31 underwent acetabular arthroplasty (13.3%). Results. At a mean 74.4 months follow-up, the overall revision rate was 15.0%. Primary malignancy (p < 0.001) and age < 50 years (p < 0.001) were risk factors for revision. The risks of death and implant failure were similar in patients with primary disease (p = 0.872), but the risk of death was significantly greater for patients who had metastatic bone disease (p < 0.001). Acetabular-related implant failures comprised 74.3% of revisions; however, no difference between hemiarthroplasty or arthroplasty groups (p = 0.209), or between monopolar or bipolar hemiarthroplasties (p = 0.307), was observed. There was greater radiological wear in patients with longer follow-up and primary bone malignancy. Re-revision rates following a revision PFEPR was 34.3%, with dual-mobility bearings having the lowest rate of instability and re-revision (15.4%). Conclusion. Hemiarthroplasty and arthroplasty PFEPRs carry the same risk of revision in the medium term, and is primarily due to acetabular complications. There is no difference in revision rates or erosion between monopolar and bipolar hemiarthroplasties. The main causes of failure were acetabular wear in the hemiarthroplasty group and instability in the arthroplasty group. These risks should be balanced and patient prognosis considered when contemplating the bearing choice. Dual-mobility, constrained bearings, or large diameter heads (> 32 mm) are recommended in all revision PFEPRs. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(10):1633–1640

1. The methods by which epiphyses receive their blood supply was studied by means of India ink injections in monkeys. Two types were identified depending upon whether the epiphysis was entirely or partly covered by articular cartilage. In the former, nutrient vessels enter the epiphysis by traversing the perichondrium at the periphery of the plate. In the latter they enter the epiphysis by penetrating the cortex at the side of the epiphysis at a point remote from the epiphysial plate. 2. The histological changes after separation of the second type of epiphysis were also studied. After temporary interference with endochondral ossification marked by increased thickness of the epiphysial plate, healing occurred so rapidly that within three weeks it was difficult to determine that the epiphysis had been separated at all. 3. It is concluded that when nutrient vessels enter an epiphysis at a point remote from the epiphysial plate, that epiphysis can be separated without serious disturbance to its blood supply and accordingly without interference with its capacity for growth. As it has been established that an epiphysis which is entirely covered by articular cartilage cannot be separated without destruction of its blood supply and subsequent avascular necrosis (Harris and Hobson 1956), it is concluded that the prognosis of an epiphysial separation is dependent upon the degree of damage to its blood supply rather than the mechanical disturbance of the epiphysial plate

In fifty-two knees with spontaneous osteonecrosis the diagnosis was based on a subchondral transradiancy in the weight-bearing surface of the medial femoral condyle. Strontium-85 scintimetry showed a unique pattern, indicating a lively repair reaction by localised high values. Thirteen of fifteen knees followed between two and twenty-three years developed osteoarthritis. The prognosis was based on the size of the transradiancy and the focality of the lesion as determined by scintimetry. It is suggested that scintimetry permits differentiation between primary osteoarthritis and arthritis secondary to osteonecrosis

We evaluated the long-term outcome of patients with an osteosarcoma who had undergone prior manipulative therapy, a popular treatment in Asia, and investigated its effects on several prognostic factors. Of the 134 patients in this study, 70 (52%) patients had manipulative therapy and 64 (48%) did not. The age, location, and size of tumour were not significantly different between the groups. The five-year overall survival rate was 58% and 92% in the groups with and without manipulative therapy (p = 0.004). Both the primary and overall rates of lung metastasis were significantly higher in the manipulative group (primary: 32% vs 3%, p = 0.003; overall lung metastasis rate: 51.4% vs 18.8%, p < 0.001). Patients who had manipulative therapy had higher local recurrence rates in comparison to patients who did not (29% vs 6%, p = 0.011). The prognosis for patients with osteosarcoma who had manipulative therapy was significantly poorer than those who had not. Manipulative therapy was an independent factor for survival. This form of therapy may serve as a mechanism to accelerate the spread of tumour cells, and therefore must be avoided in order to improve the outcome for patients with an osteosarcoma

We reviewed 43 patients who had sustained soft-tissue injuries of the neck after a mean 10.8 years. Of these, only 12% had recovered completely. Residual symptoms were intrusive in 28% and severe in 12%. Pain in the neck and lower back was the commonest complaint and older patients had a worse prognosis. After two years, symptoms did not alter with further passage of time

We studied the rates of revision for 53 698 primary total hip replacements (THRs) in nine different groups of disease. Factors which have previously been shown to be associated with increased risk of revision, such as male gender, young age, or certain types of uncemented prosthesis, showed important differences between the diagnostic groups. Without adjustment for these factors we observed an increased risk of revision in patients with paediatric hip diseases and in a small heterogeneous ‘other’ group, compared with patients with primary osteoarthritis. Most differences were reduced or disappeared when an adjustment for the prognostic factors was made. After adjustment, an increased relative risk (RR) of revision compared with primary osteoarthritis was seen in hips with complications after fracture of the femoral neck (RR = 1.3, p = 0.0005), in hips with congenital dislocation (RR = 1.3, p = 0.03), and in the heterogenous ‘other’ group. The analyses were also undertaken in a more homogenous subgroup of 16 217 patients which had a Charnley prosthesis implanted with high-viscosity cement. The only difference in this group was an increased risk for revision in patients who had undergone THR for complications after fracture of the femoral neck (RR = 1.5, p = 0.0005). THR for diagnoses seen mainly among young patients had a good prognosis, but they had more often received inferior uncemented implants. If a cemented Charnley prosthesis is used, the type of disease leading to THR seems in most cases to have only a minor influence on the survival of the prosthesis

1. Twenty-nine patients with traction lesions of the brachial plexus have been studied. 2. The methods of study have been by clinical examination, by operative exploration and biopsy and by examination of axon reflexes. 3. Results in each of these sections have been related to the progress of the lesions. 4. The results suggest: a) that the reason for the generally poor prognosis in traction lesions of the brachial plexus is the frequency of intradural preganglionic damage and of tearing apart of the plexus; b) that the former occurrence can with some accuracy be diagnosed by examination of axon reflexes and that the latter can be detected at operation. 5. Indications for operative exploration are given and a plan is outlined for the management of these cases

1. The natural history and prognosis of progressive infantile idiopathic scoliosis are reviewed and twenty-eight cases are reported. 2. Resolving infantile idiopathic scoliosis is described and seven cases are reported. 3. The length of the curve, the degree of rotation, the age of onset of deterioration, and the rate of progression are the important factors in determining the type and severity of the deformity. 4. Infantile idiopathic scoliosis is briefly compared with congenital scoliosis

We have attempted to identify the most important long-term prognostic factors in Perthes' disease by studying 61 patients affected unilaterally. The average age at diagnosis was 7 years 5 months and at follow-up it was 32 years, an average interval of 25 years. The age at diagnosis, age at follow-up, Catterall group, acetabular coverage, femoral head subluxation and the other head-at-risk signs were statistically correlated with Stulberg, Cooperman and Wallensten (1981) radiographic classes and the Iowa hip score. Statistically significant correlations were found between Stulberg class and Iowa hip score; age at diagnosis and Stulberg class; age at follow-up and Iowa hip score; and between lateral subluxation of the femoral head and Iowa hip score. Three age-groups of patients were found to carry different long-term prognoses. Those below five years of age at diagnosis showed a statistically significant correlation between Catterall group and Stulberg Classes I and II. Patients between five and nine years of age at diagnosis showed a significant correlation between Catterall group and Stulberg Classes I, II, III and IV while in patients diagnosed after nine years of age there was no statistical correlation between Catterall group and Stulberg class, all having a poor prognosis and ending up in Stulberg Classes III, IV and V

Opinion remains divided as to whether the development of pathological fracture affects the prognosis of patients with an osteosarcoma of the extremities. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of papers which reported the outcomes of osteosarcoma patients with and without a pathological fracture. There were eight eligible papers for final analysis which reported on 1713 patients, of whom 303 (17.7%) had a pathological fracture. The mean age for 1464 patients in six studies was 23.2 years old (2 to 82). The mean follow-up for 1481 patients in seven studies was 90.1 months (6 to 240). The pooled estimates of local recurrence rates in osteosarcoma patients with and without pathological fractures were 14.4% (8.7 to 20.0) versus 11.4% (8.0 to 14.8). The pooled estimate of relative risk was 1.39 (0.89 to 2.20). The pooled estimates of five-year event-free survival rates in osteosarcoma patients with and without a pathological fracture were 49.3% (95% CI 43.6 to 54.9) versus 66.8% (95% CI 60.7 to 72.8). The pooled estimate of relative risk was 1.33 (1.12 to 1.59). There was no significant difference in the rate of local recurrence between patients who were treated by amputation or limb salvage. The development of a pathological fracture is a negative prognostic indicator in osteosarcoma and is associated with a reduced five-year event-free survival and a possibly higher rate of local recurrence. Our findings suggest that there is no absolute indication for amputation, as similar rates of local recurrence can be achieved in patients who are carefully selected for limb salvage. . Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014; 96-B:1396–1403

This is a prospective study of 105 knees in 91 patients with idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral condyles, with an average follow-up of five years in 101 knees. Forty-eight of the 75 patients in whom the body weight was studied were obese and four of the 33 patients in whom a densitometry study was done showed decreased bone density. Prognosis is unfavourable if the lesion is larger than five square centimetres and if its width is more than 40 per cent of that of the condyle. Of the 22 patients followed up after conservative treatment 80 per cent were satisfactory. Of the 11 knees treated by arthrotomy alone 55 per cent were satisfactory. Of the 31 knees treated by osteotomy (21 with associated arthrotomy) 87 per cent were satisfactory. Arthrotomy did not significantly improve the results of osteotomies. The ideal correction was to 10 degrees of valgus. Of the 37 knees treated with replacement 95 per cent were satisfactory, and the best results were obtained with the total-condylar prosthesis

1. A method is described for determining the presence or absence of a circulation within the femoral head after fracture of the neck of the femur. 2. An account is given of the fate of nineteen femoral heads in patients who had sustained high femoral neck fracture and in whom these tests had been carried out. 3. A favourable prognosis as regards fracture union and viability of the head was found to be correct in twelve of fifteen patients. 4. Non-union and major collapse of the head occurred in four patients in whom a diagnosis of an anaemic head had been made. 5. The morbidity of the method is described. 6. An explanation is given why vascular assay has been carried out as a secondary procedure, and possible clinical applications are indicated

1. The deep posterior muscles of the neck are innervated by the posterior branches of spinal nerves, which branch off immediately after the root emerges from the intervertebral foramen. Electromyographic examination of these muscles permits a differential diagnosis to be made between intraforaminal and extraforaminal brachial plexus lesions. 2. The earlier diagnosis and prognosis thus achieved permit definitive treatment, in particular suture of the torn nerve trunks in recent extraforaminal cases

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes associated with culture-negative limb osteomyelitis patients.

Aims

The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with five-year cancer-related mortality in patients with limb and trunk soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) and develop and validate machine learning algorithms in order to predict five-year cancer-related mortality in these patients.