[Bone and joint revision surgery after limb salvage procedure of malignant bone tumor].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the indications for revision surgery after limb salvage procedure of malignant bone tumor and summarize the experiences in revision surgery.


METHODS
From January 1994 to December 1997, 8 cases were re-operated after primary limb salvage procedure. The average survival period with no-tumor occurrence was 8 years. The common causes for the revision were traumatic osteoarthritis, fracture, and bone resorption. The main difficulties in revision were soft tissue contracture and limb discrepancy from limb shortening.


RESULTS
In this study, there was total hip replacement in 1 case, large segmental allograft for reconstruction of distal femur in 3 cases, total knee replacement upon composite of previously transplanted allograft in 3 cases, removing of intramedullary nail and re-internally fixed with intramedullary nail in 1 cases. The isotopic bone scan before the revision showed active bone metabolism in all 4 transplanted segmental allograft. The pathologic study of the transplanted allograft after revision confirmed new bone formation in allograft. The revision procedure reduced the pain, and improved the limb function.


CONCLUSIONS
The main causes of revision surgery after limb salvage procedure of malignant bone tumor are fracture of transplanted allograft segment or devitalized tumor segment, and poor function of the affected joint. Constrained knee prostheses with rotating hinges or semi-constrained ball-axis resurfacing knee prostheses improve the function of knee joint postoperatively.
Wang
Z
Z
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an Shanxi, P. R. China 710032.
Ma
Z S
ZS
Huang
Y T
YT
D000328:Adult; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D005266:Femoral Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D023821:Limb Salvage; D008297:Male; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation