Martin M. Malawer

Cryosurgery in the treatment of giant cell tumor: A long term followup study

Between 1983 and 1993, 102 patients with giant cell tumor of bone were treated at three institutions. Sixteen patients (15.9%) presented with already having had local recurrence. All patients were treated with thorough curettage of the tumor, burr drilling of the tumor inner walls, and cryotherapy by direct pour technique using liquid nitrogen. The average followup was 6.5 years (range, 4-15 years). The rate of local recurrence in the 86 patients treated primarily with cryosurgery was 2.3% (two patients), and the overall recurrence rate was 7.9% (eight patients). Six of these patients were cured by cryosurgery and two underwent resection. Overall, 100 of 102 patients were cured with cryosurgery. Complications associated with cryosurgery included six (5.9%) pathologic fractures, three (2.9%) cases of partial skin necrosis, and two (1.9%) significant degenerative changes. Overall function was good to excellent in 94 patients (92.2%), moderate in seven patients (6.9%), and poor in one patient (0.9%). Cryosurgery has the advantages of joint preservation, excellent functional outcome, and low recurrence rate when compared with other joint preservation procedures. For these reasons, it is recommended as an adjuvant to curettage for most giant cell tumors of bone.

Reconstruction using the saddle prosthesis following excision of primary and metastatic periacetabular tumors

From 1988 to 1991, 17 patients with malignant periacetabular tumors underwent limbsparing surgery and reconstruction using the saddle prosthesis. There were 8 patients with primary malignant lesions (Group 1), and 9 patients with metastatic or systemic tumor involving the periacetabular pelvis (Group 2). All resections included excision of the acetabulum. Patients ranged in age from 24 to 76 years (average, 59.8 years). Local control was achieved in all patients. Wide margins were obtained in all patients with primary pelvic tumors. Functional outcomes were rated as follows excellent (10), good (2), fair (1), and poor (4). Three patients, all of whom had pulmonary metastasis before surgery, died within 8 months of surgery. Of the remaining 14 patients, 5 patients died between 6 and 28 months after the index procedure. At the end of the followup period, 9 patients were still alive (6 in Group 1 and 3 in Group 2), with a followup period ranging from 15 to 62 months (average, 33.4 months). The overall results for surviving patients were 7 excellent and 2 good results, with no fair or poor results.

Distal femur resection with endoprosthetic reconstruction: a long-term followup study.

The distal femur is a common site for primary and metastatic bone tumors and therefore, it is a frequent site in which limb-sparing surgery is done. Between 1980 and 1998, the authors treated 110 consecutive patients who had distal femur resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction. There were 61 males and 49 females who ranged in age from 10 to 80 years. Diagnoses included 99 malignant tumors of bone, nine benign-aggressive lesions, and two nonneoplastic conditions that had caused massive bone loss and articular surface destruction. Reconstruction was done with 73 modular prostheses, 27 custom-made prostheses, and 10 expandable prostheses. Twenty-six gastrocnemius flaps were used for soft tissue reconstruction. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. Function was estimated to be good or excellent in 94 patients (85.4%), moderate in nine patients (8.2%), and poor in seven patients (6.4%). Complications included six deep wound infections (5.4%), six aseptic loosenings (5.4%), six prosthetic polyethylene component failures (5.4%), and local recurrence in five of 93 patients (5.4%) who had a primary bone sarcoma. The limb salvage rate was 96%. Distal femur endoprosthetic reconstruction is a safe and reliable technique of functional limb sparing that provides good function and local tumor control in most patients.

Limb-sparing surgery for high-grade malignant tumors of the proximal tibia. Surgical technique and a method of extensor mechanism reconstruction.

A surgical technique designed for safe and easy access to the popliteal vessels, resection of a large segment of the tibia and knee joint, and a method of patellar/extensor mechanism reconstruction and soft-tissue coverage that utilizes a transferred medial gastrocnemius muscle is reported. Eleven patients have been treated with this technique, including seven patients with a minimum follow-up evaluation of two years (average, 49.5 months; range, 24.6-84.4 months). There were five males and two females, with an average age of 28.7 years. The histologic diagnoses were osteosarcoma, four patients; malignant fibrous histiocytoma, one patient; chondrosarcoma, one patient; and poorly differentiated sarcoma, one patient. The surgical stages were Stage IIA, one patient, and IIB, six patients. Six intraarticular resections and one extraarticular resection were performed; all were classified as wide excisions. Four prosthetic replacements and three arthrodeses were performed. Pathological specimens showed meniscal and patellar tendon involvement in two patients and pericapsular tibiofibular joint involvement in six patients. Local complications were transient peroneal nerve palsy in four patients and superficial skin slough in one patient. All resections obtained negative margins, and there was no local recurrence or metastatic disease. Functional results (Musculoskeletal Tumor Society System classification) were excellent in one patient, good in four, fair in one, and poor in one. Limb-sparing surgery for high-grade tumors of the proximal tibia is recommended for carefully selected patients.

Reconstruction of hip stability after proximal and total femur resections.

Dislocation is the most common complication after proximal and total femur endoprosthetic reconstruction. The current study describes a surgical technique of acetabular preservation and reconstruction of the joint capsule and abductor mechanism that recreates joint stability and avoids dislocation. Between 1980 and 1996, 57 patients underwent proximal or total femur resection with endoprosthetic reconstruction. Forty-six patients had primary sarcoma of bone, nine had other bone tumors, and two had metabolic bone disease. The acetabulum was spared and not resurfaced in all patients. Bipolar hemiarthroplasty was performed in 49 patients, and fixed unipolar hemiarthroplasty was performed in eight. Soft tissue reconstruction included Dacron tape capsulorrhaphy over the prosthetic neck, reattachment of the abductor mechanism to the prosthesis, and extracortical bone fixation. The average followup period was 6.5 years (range, 2-18.2 years). Dislocation occurred in only one (1.7%) patient, and aseptic prosthetic loosening occurred in three (5.3%) patients. Four patients with primary bone sarcoma had local recurrence, of whom one required amputation of the limb. The limb salvage rate was 98%. Eighty-one percent of the patients had a good to excellent functional outcome. Acetabular preservation, capsulorrhaphy, and reconstruction of the abductor mechanism recreate hip stability and avoid dislocation after proximal and total femur endoprosthetic reconstruction.

Osteosarcoma of the proximal humerus : long-term results with limb-sparing surgery

The purpose of the current study was to analyze the long-term oncologic and functional results and complications associated with limb-sparing surgery and endoprosthetic reconstruction for 23 patients with osteosarcoma of the proximal humerus. There was one Stage IIA lesion, 18 Stage IIB lesions, and four Stage III lesions in this study group. Twenty-two patients were treated with an extraarticular resection that included the deltoid and rotator cuff and one patient was treated with an intraarticular resection that spared the shoulder abductors. In all these patients, the proximal humerus was reconstructed with a cemented endoprosthetic replacement that was stabilized via a technique of static suspension (Dacron tapes) and dynamic suspension (muscle transfers). At latest followup (median, 10 years), 15 patients (65%) were alive without evidence of disease. There were no local recurrences. Prosthetic survival was 100% for the 15 survivors. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society upper extremity functional score ranged from 24 to 27 (80%–90%). All shoulders were stable and pain-free. Elbow and hand function were preserved in all patients. The most common complication was a transient neurapraxia (n = 8). En bloc extraarticular resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction is a safe and reliable method of limb-sparing surgery for patients with high-grade extracompartmental osteosarcoma of the proximal humerus.

Biopsy of musculoskeletal tumors. Current concepts.

Biopsy is a key step in the diagnosis of bone and soft tissue tumors. An inadequately performed biopsy may fail to allow proper diagnosis, have a negative impact on survival, and ultimately necessitate an amputation to accomplish adequate margins of resection. Poorly performed biopsy remains a common finding in patients with musculoskeletal tumors who are referred to orthopaedic oncology centers. The principles by which an adequate and safe biopsy of musculoskeletal tumors should be planned and performed are reviewed, and the surgical approach to different anatomic locations is emphasized.

Surgical management of pelvic and extremity osteosarcoma

Between 60–80% of all patients with osteosarcomas of the pelvis and the extremities can now be safely treated with limb‐sparing surgery. Results (as defined by rates of local recurrence, overall survival, and function) are equal to or better than those associated with amputation.

Constrained total scapula reconstruction after resection of a high-grade sarcoma

Patients with high-grade sarcomas arising from the scapula or periscapular soft tissues traditionally have been treated with either a total scapulectomy or a wide, en bloc, extraarticular scapular resection, termed the Tikhoff-Linberg resection. The major challenge after such resections is to restore shoulder girdle stability while preserving a functional hand and elbow. The current authors describe three patients who had an extraarticular, total scapula resection (modified Tikhoff-Linberg) for a high-grade sarcoma. Each patient had reconstruction with a constrained (rotator cuff-substituting) total scapula prosthesis in an effort to optimally restore the normal muscle force couples of both glenohumeral and scapulothoracic mechanisms. At latest followup, the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional score was 24 to 27 of 30 (80%–90%). All patients had a stable, painless shoulder and functional hand and elbow. Forward flexion and abduction ranged from 25° to 40°. Glenohumeral rotation (internal rotation, T6; external rotation −10°) below shoulder level, shoulder extension, and adduction were preserved. Protraction, retraction, elevation, and abduction of the scapula were restored and contributed to shoulder motion and upper extremity stabilization. There were no complications. Total scapula reconstruction with a constrained total scapula prosthesis is a safe and reliable method for reconstructing the shoulder girdle after resection of select high-grade sarcomas. The authors emphasize the clinical indications, prosthetic design, surgical technique, and early functional results.

Analysis of Surgical Treatment of 33 Foot and Ankle Tumors

Thirty-three patients treated for tumors of the foot and ankle at one cancer institution over a 14-year period were reviewed. There were 15 females and 18 males, with an age range of 1 to 64 years (average 22.6 years). Twenty-one tumors were benign, 11 were malignant, and 1 tumor had metastasized. The most common diagnoses were: fibromatosis (10), aneurysmal bone cyst (4), synovial sarcoma (4), chondrosarcoma (3), and other (12). Surgical procedures included: wide resection (14), local resection (8), curettage and cryosurgery (7), and below-knee amputation (4). Follow-up from surgery was 1 to 13 years (average 7.2 years). There were no local recurrences. Functional results were good-to-excellent in 82% (27/33) of patients. Fifty-five percent (18/33) of the patients were full weightbearing and enjoyed unlimited activity.