Bone tumours of the foot are rare, representing 3–6% of all bone tumours. Of these 15–25% are thought to be malignant. Obtaining clear surgical margins remains an important factor in improving outcome from tumours. However, the anatomical complexity of the foot can lead to an inadequate resection, particularly if the operating surgeon is attempting to preserve function. The aim of this paper is to identify the clinical course of patients suffering from malignant bone tumours of the foot. A prospective tumour registry over a 30 yr period was used to identify patients with a malignant bone tumour of the foot. Patient demographics along with the site of primary malignancy, region of the foot involved and clinical management were recorded.Introduction
Method
We present our experience of the coned hemi-pelvis (‘ice-cream’ cone) implant, using an extended posterior approach to the hip joint, in the management of pelvic bone loss and pelvic discontinuity. Retrospective study conducted utilising a prospectively collected database. Patients who underwent an ice-cream cone reconstruction between August 2004 – September 2011 were identified. All had a posterior approach to the hip. Femur prepared in the standard fashion. A variety of femoral components used. Demographic data was recorded along with the indication for surgery and outcomes.Introduction
Methods
To estimate the risk of bone malignancy arising in premalignant conditions. There are quite a number of possible premalignant conditions with considerable uncertainty about the actual risk of a bone sarcoma developing. The incidence of these malignant conditions was identified from a prospective database containing 3000 primary bone sarcomas.Aim
Methods
The role of adjuvants in curettage for giant cell tumours (GCT) is still controversial. Our aim was to determine if adjuvant cementation lowers local recurrence (LR) rates for GCTs treated with curettage. Detailed curettage has been the principal treatment for GCT for the past 30 years. Cement was used from 1996 onwards for tumours where there was concern about structural stability. We investigated factors affecting LR and also the incidence of complications for treatment with or without cement.Introduction
Methods
To investigate the effectiveness of silver coated prostheses in preventing periprosthetic infection in a high-risk group. We have used silver coated prostheses in 48 endoprosthetic replacements in whom there would be a high expected risk of infection.Aim
Methods
Current practice in the UK is to perform clinical follow up and CXR on patients with sarcomas with the use of cross-sectional imaging reserved for high clinical suspicion of recurrence. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of this policy by investigating patients who developed local recurrence (LR) after previous treatment of a bone or soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Additionally, we aimed to determine whether size and extent of LR at diagnosis of recurrence affected subsequent management. We reviewed clinical records and imaging of all patients in the previous 5 years (01/01/2005–01/07/2010) with diagnosed LR to investigate: how it was diagnosed, site and size of recurrence and management. A value judgement was made as to whether earlier diagnosis may have altered treatment and/or outcome.Introduction
Method
After 25 years in orthopaedic oncology the author wishes to set a challenge for the next generation by posing 10 questions which he believes still do not have answers and which may improve outcomes for patients with sarcomas Why are sarcomas diagnosed so late? Can we ever decide what is a safe margin? What is the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for STS? What can we do to decrease the risk of infection after limb salvage surgery? What is the significance of local recurrence on outcome? What really is the best treatment for Ewing's sarcoma of the pelvis? Is cross sectional imaging essential as part of patient follow up? Is it possible to evaluate outcomes combining survival and function? Why can't we run a surgical trial in orthopaedic oncology? How can we evaluate surgical success? The author suggests ways these questions may be answered.
It is generally accepted that there is a high rate of local recurrence following surgical excision of chordoma of the sacrum, even if the margins of excision appear clear. There is uncertainty as to whether the addition of postoperative radiotherapy may decrease the risk of local recurrence, particularly if there are close or involved margins. We aimed to determine the effect of conventional radiotherapy, in the post-operative setting, on the effect of local recurrence, metastases and patient survival in a multi-centre study. 57 patients were identified from the combined databases of the RNOH and ROH, who underwent surgical excision of a primary sacral chordoma and who had a minimum of three years follow-up. There were 17 women and 40 men, with a median age of 64 (25-81 range). Median tumour length was 10cm (2-20 range). 22 of the 57 patients died. Survival was 60% at 5 years and 45% at ten years. 28 of the 57 patients developed local recurrence (49%) and margins of excision did not affect the rates of local recurrence. Adjuvant radiotherapy was used in 9 patients, to with intra-lesional resections, five marginal and two wide. Without radiotherapy the local recurrence rate was 45% at five years. With radiotherapy, the local recurrence rate was 62.5% at five years. There were no statistically significant differences between the two.Methods
Results
The aim of this study is to evaluate the functional and oncological outcome of extracorporeally irradiated autografts as a method of pelvic reconstruction after internal hemipelvectomy. The study included fifteen patients with primary malignant bone tumours of the pelvis. There were 10 males and 5 females with a mean age of 21.5 years (range, 8 to 46 years). Six patients had Ewing's sarcoma, six osteosarcoma, and three chondrosarcoma.Introduction
Methods
Osteosarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of primary bone tumours that affect predominantly the long bones of patients in the first two decades of life. We aim to describe the secondary effects of a poor response (⋋90% necrosis) to chemotherapy on the effectivity of other treatment outcomes, local recurrence and survival rates. 182 cases of osteosarcoma with necrosis of less than 90% and no metastases at diagnosis have been seen at our institution over 24 years. There were 60 amputations. 122 patients underwent limb salvage, with 105 marginal margins and 17 contaminated. There was no difference in size or location between the two groups. In the 122 patients with LSS, 21 had adjuvant radiotherapy and 101 did not. In the entirety of patients with ⋋90% necrosis, survival was 64% at 2 years and 37% at 5 years. When LSS Marginal resections were compared with amputation there was a significant (P=0.006) difference in survival. LSS with a marginal margin had a 25% risk of LR. In these patients there was 25% survival, whereas the absence of a local recurrence, conferred a benefit of a 40% survival XRT was used in 21 of the 122 who underwent limb salvage. The decision to use XRT was made by the local oncologist at the treating unit. There was a 24% rate of recurrence in the XRT group and 25% with no XRT. These data demonstrated that patients who had a poor response to chemotherapy and underwent an amputation faired poorly when compared to patients with LSS. There is a selection bias in patients selected to undergo amputation. Additionally, patients who underwent amputation had a lower rate of local recurrence, but still had a poorer survival when compared to LSS.
Death within one year has been shown for some cancers to be an indicator of late presentation. They may have widespread disease by the time of diagnosis and many will have experienced delays in diagnosis. The aim of this study is to identify if this holds true for patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas. A prospective sarcoma database was used to identify all patients with a newly diagnosed bone or soft tissue sarcoma and to compare those who had died within one year with those who had survived for at least that time.Background
Method
Myxofibrosarcoma is described by WHO as comprising of a spectrum of malignant fibroblastic lesions with variably myxoid stoma, pleomorphism and with a distinctively curvilinear vascular pattern. They are reported to be one of the commonest sarcomas of elderly patients. It has previously been reported to have a high rate of locally recurrent disease (50-60%). The aim of the study was to investigate the ROH series of tumours to determine prognostic factors for survival and local recurrence. Patients were identified from the ROH database who had been treated with a new presentation of myxofibrosarcoma. The size, grade and depth of the tumour at presentation was noted. Those patients who had suffered local or distal disease relapse or died were highlighted. Analysis was undertaken by Kaplan Meier survival curves for univariate and cox regression for multivariate analysis.Introduction
Methods
The aim was to identify when primary amputation was used as primary treatment and to describe outcomes in patients managed with modern chemotherapy. A detailed review of the electronic patient records was undertaken. Statistical analysis was performed with univariate analysis using Kaplan-Meier curves and Chi2 testing, whilst multivariate analysis was performed using Cox regression analysis. There were 354 osteosarcomas. 93 patients presented with metastases and 192 subsequently developed metastases at a mean of 46 months. Amputation was performed as the primary surgical treatment in 101 patients. Endoprosthetic reconstruction was used in 253 patients. Amputation was performed as a secondary procedure on 15 patients. The 5 and 10 year survival data for all patients, including those with metastatic disease were 60% and 60% for amputation with good chemotherapy response (>89% necrosis), 65% and 63% for limb salvage and good response, 21% and 21% for amputation and poor response (⋋90% necrosis) and 51% and 30% for limb salvage with poor response. Local recurrence occurred both with amputation (10.8%) or limb salvage (9%), with no significant differences between the two. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the extent of response to chemotherapy induced necrosis significantly affected survival, whether the patient had an amputation or not. Whether or not amputation or LSS was used in the surgical management of patients, local recurrence rates where similar between the two groups. Further assessment of chemotherapy-induced necrosis is a key factor in determining subsequent limb salvage or amputation management strategies.
To look at the effect of width and tissue at surgical margins, together with the use of adjuvant therapy on locally recurrent disease and disease free survival. The distance (mm) and tissue has been regularly reported for 5 years, prior to this it was reported as wide, marginal or intra-lesional. It is known from previous studies that 90% of locally recurrent disease for osteosarcoma and Ewing's occurs within 2 years from surgery. Therefore all primary bone sarcomas of the pelvis and appendicular skeleton that underwent surgery between 1/1/2005 and 1/1/2008 were entered, giving at least 2 years follow up. The pathology records were reviewed and the margins and percentage tumour necrosis were recorded. Those patients who had suffered local or distal disease relapse or died were highlighted. Analysis was undertaken by Kaplan Meier survival curves with univariate and multivariate analysis.Introduction
Methods
It is generally held that blood tests are not particularly helpful in establishing the diagnosis of bone tumours but may be useful in prognosis. We reviewed the results of blood tests taken at the time of diagnosis to establish the frequency of abnormalities in common blood tests and whether this was significant in staging or prognosis. Blood test results on all newly diagnosed patients with bone tumours from 2005 – 2010 were exported and abnormalities identified. This was matched to diagnosis, clinical features and prognosis.Introduction
Method
Earlier diagnosis is one of the key aims in achieving improved outcomes for patients with cancer. In general, the earlier a tumour is diagnosed, the easier it will be to treat and the greater the chance of cure. We have investigated how tumour size at diagnosis and duration of symptoms, both of which may act as a proxy for delay in diagnosis have varied over a 25 year period and whether there is evidence of improvement. Data were available for 2568 patients with primary bone sarcomas and 2366 with soft tissue sarcomas. The mean size at diagnosis was 10.7 cm for bone tumours and 9.9cm for soft tissue sarcomas. The size of bone sarcomas had not changed with the passage of time but there had been a slight decrease in the size of soft tissue sarcomas (10.3 cm before 2000 vs 9.6cm after 2000, p=0.03). The duration of symptoms reported by patients varied widely with a median of 16 weeks for bone sarcomas and 26 weeks for soft tissue sarcomas. The median duration of symptoms for bone sarcomas had actually increased since 2000 (16 weeks before to 20 weeks after 2000, p⋋0.01), whilst it remained unchanged for soft tissue sarcomas. Further analysis showed that females tended to present with smaller tumours than males and that slower growing tumours (eg. liposarcoma and chondrosarcoma) tended to be larger and have a longer duration of symptoms than other tumours. 15% of patients with a soft tissue sarcoma had undergone a previous inadvertent excision – and this % has not changed over 20 years. Younger patients had smaller soft tissue soft tissue sarcomas than older patients but there was little difference for bone sarcomas. This data shows there is huge room for improvementConclusion
Chondrosarcoma of bone is a surgical disease and excision with wide margins is the optimum treatment. Sometimes the size or location of the tumour at the time of diagnosis mean that only a marginal excision can be achieved. The effect of the margin of excision on outcome is investigated. All patients with newly diagnosed primary chondrosarcoma of bone and without metastases at the time of diagnosis were identified from a prospective database. Their outcome was investigated to assess whether the margin of excision affected outcome. 492 patients were included in the analysis with a mean age of 48. The mean tumour size was 11cm and 59% were male. The 10 year tumour specific survival was 85% for clear cell (N=7) and grade 1 (N=210), 60% for grade 2 (N=180), 47% for grade 3 (N=59) and 16% for dedifferentiated (N=36). The 10 year local recurrence free survival was 86% (clear cell), 73% (grade 1), 67% (grade 2), 36% (grade 3) and 56% dedifferentiated. Local recurrence was strongly related to older age (p=0.0065), grade (p⋋0.0001) and margins (p⋋0.0001). Patients who developed local recurrence had a 43% survival at 10 years compared with 76% for those who did not (p⋋0.0001). They also had a 49% risk of developing metastases compared to a 17% risk for those without local recurrence (p⋋0.0001). However most of these patients had metastases before developing LR(57%). 16 of 65 patients with local recurrence but no metastases, died due to local progression (usually pelvic or spinal tumours). There was however no relation of the margin of excision to either the risk of developing metastases or survival for any grade of tumour.Method
Results
To evaluate functional and oncological outcomes following sacral resection Retrospective review of 97 sacral tumours referred to spinal or oncology units between 2004 and 2009.Objective
Methods
Infected mega-endoprostheses are difficult to treat with systemic antibiotics due to encapsulation of the implant by fibrous tissue, formation of biofilms and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Modifying the implant surface by incorporating a bactericidal agent may reduce infection. Infection rates are typically in the range of 8% to 30%. This study describes a novel process method of “stitching-in” ionic silver into the implant surface, A novel process has been developed to “stitch in” ionic silver into the upper surface of titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V). The process produces a modification by anodisation of the titanium alloy in dilute phosphoric acid, followed by absorption of silver from an aqueous solution. The engineered surface modification is therefore integral with the substrate and loaded with silver by an ion exchange reaction. Using this technique the maximum inventory of silver for typical a mega-prosthesis is 6mg and this is greater than 300 times lower than the No Observable Adverse Affects Level (NOAEL). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the silver was concentrated in pits and forming reservoirs of ionic silver exposed to the body tissues. Laboratory-based studies focusing on the safety and efficacy of silver as a bactericidal agent have included investigation into cytotoxicity using fibroblast and osteoblast cell lines, the impact of silver in reducing corrosion and laboratory testing to establish if the modified surface has an effect on the wear and mechanical characteristics. A range of fatigue, static, tensile pull off tests were performed. The silver elution profiles for both silver loaded and HA coated over a silver loaded surface have been examined. Histological studies were also performed to examine the impact of the silver on osseointegration. The To date (May 10) 147 silver treated mega-prostheses have been implanted since March 2006. The majority of implants were distal femoral (29%), proximal tibial (23%) or hemiplevic (10%). The most common indication was revision of a failed limb salvage reconstruction (58%), with the dominant cause of failure being infection. The next most common indication was bone tumour (31%) and the large majority were used in the high risk skeletal locations of the tibia (44%) and the pelvis (27%). Early clinical results are encouraging indicating a significant reduction in the incidence of infection. Three implants have been retrieved. An analysis of a proximal humeral replacement that had been This novel process of “stitching-in” silver appears to be a safe and effective surface treatment in helping to control infections of mega-prostheses. This technology has the potential to be transferred to other arthroplasty joints.
To evaluate functional and oncological outcomes following resection of sacral tumours and discuss the strategies for instrumentation. Primary malignant tumours of the sacrum are rare, arising from bony or neural elements, or bone marrow in haematological malignancies. Management of such lesions is dictated by anatomy and the behaviour of tumours. Three key issues which arise are the adequacy of tumour resection, mechanical stabilisation and the need for colostomy. Stabilisation is often extensive and can be challenging.Objective
Introduction
