title: Endoprosthetic replacement of the distal humerus following resection of bone tumours.
abstract: Between 1988 and 2006, 18 patients had a custom-made endoprosthetic replacement of the distal humerus for bone tumours at our institution. There were 11 primary malignant neoplasms, six secondary deposits, and one benign aggressive tumour. The mean follow-up was for 4.4 years (1 to 18.2). Complications occurred in nine patients and included aseptic loosening in three (16.6%), local recurrence in two (11%), infection in two (11%), neuropraxia of the radial nerve in one (5.5%) and a peri-prosthetic fracture in one (5.5%). Excision was inadequate in four patients (22%), all of which developed local recurrence and/or metastases. There were seven deaths from the primary disease after a mean of 2.3 years (1 to 5), one of whom had an above-elbow amputation for local recurrence seven months before death. The remaining six had satisfactory elbow function at their last follow-up. The 11 living patients were evaluated using the Musculoskeletal Tumour Society and Toronto Extremity Salvage scoring systems. The mean scores achieved were 76% (67% to 87%) and 73% (59% to 79%), respectively. Overall, 17 of 18 patients had significant improvement in the degree of their pain following operation. Custom-made endoprosthetic reconstruction of the elbow for bone tumours is a viable treatment in carefully selected patients. It maintains satisfactory function and provides good pain relief.
authors.affiliation: The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, England. sammyhanna@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: W J S
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Aston
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gikas
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Blunn
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Cannon
authors.forename: T W R
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Briggs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000379:methods*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome