Abstract
Bone reconstruction in pediatric oncology always has to face two major problems: the frequent unavailability of small prosthetic tools and the difficulty in finding bone allografts of adequate size.
Aim of this work is to present the research lines in this field, currently active in our institution to improve the planning and the results of reconstructive tumor surgery in children. Starting from patient’s CT data sets, subject-specific 3D models of bone segments can be created and compared with the similar models obtained by the CT analysis of massive allografts stored in the Rizzoli Bone Bank.
In the same time the computer modelling technologies allow the development of three-dimensional environment, where the surgeon can navigate and exploit both artificial (prostheses, metallic plates and screws) or biological tools (bone allografts or autografts).
The presented method has been utilized with success in 10 children (mean age 8, range 4–13) that underwent a skeletal reconstruction of the limbs in the last year (proximal humerus 1, diaphyseal humerus 1, total humerus 1, distal radius 1, proximal femur 3, diaphyseal femur 1, proximal tibia 1, diaphyseal tibia
The abstracts were prepared by Ms Grazia Gliozzi. Correspondence should be addressed to her at the Italian Orthopaedic Research Society, Laboratory for Pathophysiology, Instituti Ortopedici Rizzoli, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
