[Application of prosthesis replacement in limb salvage treatment of mild-malignant tumors at the articular ends of femurs].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical outcome of application of joint prosthesis in limb salvage treatment of mild-malignant tumor at the articular ends of femurs, with severe osteolysis.


METHODS
The treatment of 15 cases of mild-malignant tumor at the articular ends of femurs with severe bone destruction, from 1978 to 1999, was reviewed. There were 10 cases of giant-cell bone tumor and 5 cases of chondrosarcoma, among which there were 5 cases at the stage of I A, 9 cases at I B, and 1 case at II A, with 4 cases at the proximal end and 11 cases at the distal end. The tumor was totally removed, with a massive bone defect left at the foci, and then the prosthesis replacement was performed to reconstruct the articular joint. All of the 15 patients were followed up for 9 months to 20 years, 4 years and 3 months on average, before clinical evaluation.


RESULTS
All of the wound healed well, with primary healing. Local relapse occurred in one case and the patient died of lung metastasis; the amputation of the replaced knee joint was performed in one case due to severe infection after trauma; radiograph showed there was slight sunk of the prosthesis in 2 cases after replacement. The other 11 cases recovered well with satisfactory function.


CONCLUSIONS
The limb salvage treatment of mild-malignant tumor at the articular ends of femurs would be available, especially for those with massive bone destruction, when the tumor is removed by whole and rationally marginal resection, followed by properly utilization of prosthesis and general post-operative exercise.
Zhou
Zhong
Z
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Military General Hospital of Fuzhou, Nanjing Command. Fuzhou, Fujian, P. R. China, 350025.
Wang
Wan-Ming
WM
Fu
Chen-Xue
CX
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D005260:Female; D005266:Femoral Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged