Desarthrodesis and prosthetic reconstruction of the knee after resection of bone tumors.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to review the long-term results in patients who had undergone modular prosthetic reconstruction of the knee, following a failed arthrodesis performed after the resection of bone tumors.


METHODS
We reviewed 16 desarthrodeses and prosthetic reconstructions of the knee following a failed artificial arthrodesis after bone tumor resection. Desarthrodeses and subsequent knee megaprosthesis were performed after breakage of the arthrodesis implant in 11 cases and following presumed eradication of infection in five cases.


RESULTS
The mean follow-up was 15.9 years. The mean post-operative range of knee flexion was 70°, but only four patients had active extension of the knee. Functional results, according to the MSTS system, were satisfactory in 11 patients. Complications included deep infections in five patients, aseptic loosening in three patients, breakage of the joint hinge in one patient, and patellar tendon avulsion in one patient. Despite a high rate of complications, all but two patients were satisfied.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that conversion of oncological knee arthrodesis to total knee arthroplasty should be taken into consideration only after giving the patient extensive information about the high risk of serious complications.
Ruggieri
Pietro
P
Orthopaedic, Musculoskeletal Oncology Department, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
Kasimatis
Georgios
G
Errani
Costantino
C
Bosco
Giuseppe
G
Mercuri
Mario
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001174:Arthrodesis; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult