ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the pasteurized tumor-bearing bone replantation in treatment of primary malignant bone tumor of extremities. Methods: Between February 2012 and June 2016, 13 patients with primary malignant bone tumor of extremities were treated with pasteurized tumor-bearing bone replantation after extensive excision. There were 8 males and 5 females, aged from 11 to 27 years, with an average of 17.4 years. Tumors were located at the mid-upper humerus in 2 cases, the mid-upper femur in 2 cases, the mid-lower femur in 6 cases, the mid-upper tibia in 2 cases, and the middle tibia in 1 case. According to Enneking staging system, 3 patients were classified as stage ⅠB, 5 patients as stage ⅡA, and 5 patients as stage ⅡB. There were 11 cases of osteosarcoma and 2 cases of chondrosarcoma. The disease duration ranged from 3 to 8 months, with an average of 4.8 months. The length of the tumor-bearing bone ranged from 8 to 16 cm, with an average of 12.5 cm. Postoperative follow-up was conducted regularly to evaluate the status of inactivated bone and complications. The limb function was assessed by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 93 (MSTS-93) scoring system. Results: All 13 patients were followed up 26-79 months, with an average of 50.5 months. Eleven patients survived without tumors. Two patients had local soft tissue recurrence and underwent amputation, 1 had lung metastasis after amputation and died. All patients had no complications of bone resorption, shortening, and internal fixation disorder. The nonunion of osteotomy occurred in 4 cases. Among them, 3 cases were successfully healed after autologous iliac bone grafting, and 1 case was treated conservatively. The healing time of metaphyseal osteotomy end was 10-15 months (mean, 12.6 months), the healing rate was 90.9% (10/11); the healing time of diaphyseal osteotomy end was 12-21 months (mean, 17.0 months), the healing rate was 72.7% (8/11); and the total healing rate of osteotomy end was 81.8% (18/22). One case had inactivated bone fracture and 1 case had incision dehiscence and infection after operation. At last follow-up, the MSTS-93 score of affected limb ranged from 21 to 28, with an average of 25.3. Conclusion: The procedure of the pasteurized tumor-bearing bone replantation is an effective, simple, and economic way in repair of massive segmental bone defect to save limb function for primary malignant bone tumor of extremities.