Objective To explore the effectiveness of artificial hemi-knee prosthesis reconstruction for bone defects after resection of pediatric osteosarcoma. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 18 children with osteosarcoma who met the selection criteria and were treated between January 2016 and December 2019. There were 11 males and 7 females, aged 6-10 years (mean, 8.9 years). Osteosarcoma located in the distal femur in 11 cases and the proximal tibia in 7 cases. Among them, 12 cases were conventional osteosarcoma and 6 cases were small cell osteosarcoma, with a disease duration of 1-9 months (mean, 3.1 months). All patients received 2 cycles of preoperative chemotherapy with doxorubicin, cisplatin, and ifosfamide. After en bloc tumor segment resection, bone defects were reconstructed using custom-made artificial hemi-knee prostheses. Rehabilitation training was initiated at 8 weeks postoperatively under the protection of a knee immobilizer brace, combined with 4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. During follow-up, lower limb growth length and limb shortening (compared with the healthy side) were measured, and limb function was evaluated using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society-93 (MSTS-93) scoring system. Results All surgeries were successfully completed, with an operation time of 2.0-3.1 hours (mean, 2.4 hours) and intraoperative blood loss of 180-320 mL (mean, 230.0 mL). Incisional edge necrosis occurred in 1 case at 10 days postoperatively, while the incisions of the remaining 17 patients healed by first intention. One case developed periprosthetic infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus at 1 week postoperatively, which was cured after symptomatic treatment. All 18 patients were followed up 60-96 months (mean, 74.2 months). No local tumor recurrence was observed during follow-up. Imaging examinations showed prosthesis loosening in 2 cases, while the prosthesis of other patients were well-positioned. At last follow-up, the knee joint range of motion was 80°-120° (mean, 106.7°). The MSTS-93 score was 16-29 (mean, 24.7), with 12 cases rated as excellent, 5 good, and 1 fair. The patients’ height increased by 12.8-20.0 cm (mean, 15.5 cm), the lower limb growth length was 6.0-13.0 cm (mean, 9.7 cm), and limb shortening was 1.8-4.6 cm (mean, 3.1 cm). There was no significant difference in MSTS-93 scores, lower limb growth length, or limb shortening between the distal femur group and the proximal tibia group (P>0.05). Conclusion Artificial hemi-knee prosthesis reconstruction can preserve the adjacent normal epiphysis of the knee joint, maximize limb growth potential, and reduce adult limb length discrepancy, making it a suitable reconstruction option for children with knee osteosarcoma.
ObjectiveTo summarize the experience in the treatment of infection after limb salvage surgery for malignant tumor around knee joint, and explore the risk factor related to infection after limb salvage surgery.MethodsA clinical data of 212 patients with malignant tumor around the knee joint underwent limb salvage surgery between January 2008 and December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 14 cases had infection after limb salvage surgery. Two cases of acute infection were treated with sensitive antibiotics; 12 cases of chronic infection were treated with debridement and antibiotic bone cement occupying device implantation in the first stage, and prosthesis revision (8 cases), knee joint fusion (2 cases), or amputation (2 cases) in the second stage after infection control. The age, gender, preoperative chemotherapy cycle, bone marrow suppression, serum albumin, hemoglobin, operation time, postoperative drainage time, and blood transfusion volume were analyzed to screen the risk factors related to infection after limb salvage surgery. The infection and tumor recurrence were observed, and the limb function was evaluated by Enneking scoring system.ResultsThe univariate analysis showed that the preoperative chemotherapy cycle, bone marrow suppression, operation time, and postoperative drainage time were the influencing factors of postoperative infection (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the operation time, preoperative chemotherapy cycle, and postoperative drainage time were risk factors of postoperative infection (P<0.05). Among the 14 patients, 1 patient died of traffic accident at 6 months after the second stage operation, and 13 patients were followed up 12.2-48.0 months (mean, 19.9 months). Two cases of acute infection cured. Among the 11 patients with chronic infection, 2 cases of subluxation of the antibiotic bone cement occupying device after the first stage operation occurred; 9 cases of infection cured and 2 cases recurred. At 12 months after operation, except 1 case died by accident, the Enneking scores of the other 13 patients were 12-26, with an average of 20. At last follow-up, 1 case of lung metastasis was still alive, and no tumor metastasis or recurrence was found in the rest.ConclusionThe time of limb salvage surgery, preoperative chemotherapy cycle, and drainage time after limb salvage surgery are the risk factors of infection after limb salvage surgery. Early etiological examination and drug sensitivity test is the key to the treatment of infection. One-stage debridement combined with antibiotic bone cement occupying device can effectively cure infection and save patients’ limbs.