title: Locking compression plate in musculoskeletal oncology 'a friend in need'.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We are presenting our experience in the use of locking compression plate (LCP) after juxta-articular oncological resections in addition to its use in pathologic fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective audit of skeletal reconstruction using LCP in 25 cases of long bone tumors was performed from 2008 to 2010. Reconstruction following limb salvage surgery was done in 17 patients and internal fixation of pathological fracture was done in 8 patients. All patients were available for > 12 months of follow-up, and thus assessed for union at the resected ends.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 8 males and 17 females in the study. The average age at the time of surgery was 30 years (range, 9 to 66 years). The minimum follow-up was 12 months (range, 12 to 32 months). All patients except three went on to heal successfully. Complications occurred in those three patients: wound infection in one, nonunion in another, and periprosthetic fracture in the other patient. In the remaining patients, union was achieved at an average of 6.5 months after reconstruction in curative resection and 4.75 months after fixation of pathological fractures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Joint sparing limb salvage surgery was made successfully possible after sekeletal reconstruction with LCP. Its use was also quite effective in pathological fractures with poor bone quality. Use of locking plates for musculoskeletal oncological reconstruction resulted in a good and predictable rate of union.
authors: Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Masood
authors: M
authors: Umer
authors: Kashif
authors: K
authors: Abbas
authors: Shahid
authors: S
authors: Khan
authors: Haroon Ur
authors: HU
authors: Rashid
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001860:Bone Plates; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Locking compression plate; Oncological resection; Skeletal reconstruction