I.C.M. van der Geest

Intercalary allograft reconstructions following resection of primary bone tumors: a nationwide multicenter study.

BACKGROUND Favorable reports on the use of massive allografts to reconstruct intercalary defects underline their place in limb-salvage surgery. However, little is known about optimal indications as reports on failure and complication rates in larger populations remain scarce. We evaluated the incidence of and risk factors for failure and complications, time to full weight-bearing, and optimal fixation methods for intercalary allografts after tumor resection. METHODS A retrospective study was performed in all four centers of orthopaedic oncology in the Netherlands. All consecutive patients reconstructed with intercalary (whole-circumference) allografts after tumor resection in the long bones during 1989 to 2009 were evaluated. The minimum follow-up was twenty-four months. Eighty-seven patients with a median age of seventeen years (range, 1.5 to 77.5 years) matched inclusion criteria. The most common diagnoses were osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, adamantinoma, and chondrosarcoma. The median follow-up period was eighty-four months (range, twenty-five to 262 months). Ninety percent of tumors were localized in the femur or the tibia. RESULTS Fifteen percent of our patients experienced a graft-related failure. The major complications were nonunion (40%), fracture (29%), and infection (14%). Complications occurred in 76% of patients and reoperations were necessary in 70% of patients. The median time to the latest complication was thirty-two months (range, zero to 200 months). The median time to full weight-bearing was nine months (range, one to eighty months). Fifteen grafts failed, twelve of which failed in the first four years. None of the thirty-four tibial reconstructions failed. Reconstruction site, patient age, allograft length, nail-only fixation, and non-bridging osteosynthesis were the most important risk factors for complications. Adjuvant chemotherapy and irradiation had no effects on complication rates. CONCLUSIONS We report high complication rates and considerable failure rates for the use of intercalary allografts; complications primarily occurred in the first years after surgery, but some occurred much later after surgery. To reduce the number of failures, we recommend reconsidering the use of allografts for reconstructions of defects that are ≥15 cm, especially in older patients, and applying bridging osteosynthesis with use of plate fixation.

Aneurysmal bone cyst: The role of cryosurgery as local adjuvant treatment

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are most often treated with intralesional surgery (curettage) and additional bone grafting. There is debate on whether or not to use adjuvant therapy to decrease the local recurrence rate. This study is done to assess the outcome of curettage and cryosurgery as a treatment of ABC.

Oncological and functional results of cryosurgical therapy of enchondromas and chondrosarcomas grade 1.

Cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen is used as adjuvant treatment after intralesional resection of bone tumours to induce cell death. It is applied to enlarge the oncological margins of resection and to reduce the local recurrence rate. The objective of this study is to analyze the oncological and functional results.

Giant cell tumours of the small bones of the hands and feet: Long-term results of 30 patients and a systematic literature review.

Giant cell tumours (GCTs) of the small bones of the hands and feet are rare. Small case series have been published but there is no consensus about ideal treatment. We performed a systematic review, initially screening 775 titles, and included 12 papers comprising 91 patients with GCT of the small bones of the hands and feet. The rate of recurrence across these publications was found to be 72% (18 of 25) in those treated with isolated curettage, 13% (2 of 15) in those treated with curettage plus adjuvants, 15% (6 of 41) in those treated by resection and 10% (1 of 10) in those treated by amputation. We then retrospectively analysed 30 patients treated for GCT of the small bones of the hands and feet between 1987 and 2010 in five specialised centres. The primary treatment was curettage in six, curettage with adjuvants (phenol or liquid nitrogen with or without polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)) in 18 and resection in six. We evaluated the rate of complications and recurrence as well as the factors that influenced their functional outcome. At a mean follow-up of 7.9 years (2 to 26) the rate of recurrence was 50% (n = 3) in those patients treated with isolated curettage, 22% (n = 4) in those treated with curettage plus adjuvants and 17% (n = 1) in those treated with resection (p = 0.404). The only complication was pain in one patient, which resolved after surgical removal of remnants of PMMA. We could not identify any individual factors associated with a higher rate of complications or recurrence. The mean post-operative Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scores were slightly higher after intra-lesional treatment including isolated curettage and curettage plus adjuvants (29 (20 to 30)) compared with resection (25 (15 to 30)) (p = 0.091). Repeated curettage with adjuvants eventually resulted in the cure for all patients and is therefore a reasonable treatment for both primary and recurrent GCT of the small bones of the hands and feet.

Hemicortical Resection and Inlay Allograft Reconstruction for Primary Bone Tumors A Retrospective Evaluation in the Netherlands and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND Selected primary tumors of the long bones can be adequately treated with hemicortical resection, allowing for optimal function without compromising the oncological outcome. Allografts can be used to reconstruct the defect. As there is a lack of studies of larger populations with sufficient follow-up, little is known about the outcomes of these procedures. METHODS In this nationwide retrospective study, all patients treated with hemicortical resection and allograft reconstruction for a primary bone tumor from 1989 to 2012 were evaluated for (1) mechanical complications and infection, (2) oncological outcome, and (3) failure or allograft survival. The minimum duration of follow-up was twenty-four months. RESULTS The study included 111 patients with a median age of twenty-eight years (range, seven to seventy-three years). The predominant diagnoses were adamantinoma (n = 37; 33%) and parosteal osteosarcoma (n = 18; 16%). At the time of review, 104 patients (94%) were alive (median duration of follow-up, 6.7 years). Seven patients (6%) died, after a median of twenty-six months. Thirty-seven patients (33%) had non-oncological complications, with host bone fracture being the most common (n = 20, 18%); all healed uneventfully. Other complications included nonunion (n = 8; 7%), infection (n = 8; 7%), and allograft fracture (n = 3; 3%). Of ninety-seven patients with a malignant tumor, fifteen (15%) had residual or recurrent tumor and six (6%) had metastasis. The risk of complications and fractures increased with the extent of cortical resection. CONCLUSIONS Survival of hemicortical allografts is excellent. Host bone fracture is the predominant complication; however, none of these fractures necessitated allograft removal in our series. The extent of resection is the most important risk factor for complications. Hemicortical resection is not recommended for high-grade lesions; however, it may be superior to segmental resection for treatment of carefully selected tumors, provided that it is possible to obtain adequate margins. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

F-18 FDG PET/CT as a crucial guide toward optimal treatment planning in a case of postirradiation sarcoma 10 years after primary bone lymphoma of the pelvis.

Ten years after chemoradiation for primary lymphoma of the left pelvic bone, a 38-year-old man presented with a 4-month history of gradually increasing pain in his left upper leg and thigh. Initial radiographs and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging were consistent with recurrent lymphoma, infection, or postirradiation sarcoma. Subsequent F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography demonstrated a focal area of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-avidity within the previously irradiated bone consistent with tumor and the location was confirmed by advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques and histopathology, thus optimizing treatment planning.

1410PADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT CANCER PATIENT (AYAS) PARTICIPATION AS DRIVER OF A NEW “AYA PROOF” CANCER CARE CONCEPT

ABSTRACT Aim: Every year 2200 new patients are diagnosed with cancer at AYA age (18-35 years) in the Netherlands. Until 2008 no specific health care organization existed for AYAs in the Netherlands, whereas they expressed their wish to get more attention for their age-specific needs. This led to an initiative in the Radboud university medical center, called the AYA Expertise Platform in which complementary input and initiatives of both patients and caregivers is crucial. Methods: At start in 2008, we asked input from the Dutch Patient Foundation ‘Young and Cancer’, and later also from individual patients in building a digital AYA community in 2010. In 2012 a so-called AYA taskforce was installed in which AYAs and professional caregivers from adult medical disciplines meet each other 4 times a year and work in small dream teams toward solutions of topics which are prioritized by the patients. Results: Based on the first sessions we made a clinical hang-out spot for AYAs and appointed a specialized AYA nurse who started an outpatient clinic dedicated to age specific care. Patients visit this clinic with questions about education, work, coping with cancer, relations, fertility, financial issues etc. They are subsequently discussed within a multidisciplinary group consisting of this nurse, medical oncologist, social worker and psychologist. The tumor related follow-up is continued by their own oncologists. In 2010 an AYA driven digital community ‘AYA4’ was built in which patients are linked together in a protected way. AYAs express their feelings, help each other and organize activities where they can meet each other. Currently 105 AYAs are member of the community. Finally, the AYA taskforce generated a list of topics which were prioritized by the patients: food, fertility, spirituality and end of life issues. Conclusions: In our hospital AYAs, together with health care professionals, are gradually building their own AYA Expertise Platform to be used during and after treatment. Patients are in the lead in co-creating their own care together with their health care professionals of the hospital wide AYA team, which process is efficient and appealing to all. Currently, the concept is being extended to a national AYA platform. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.