Gastrocnemius muscle transfer for soft-tissue coverage and extensor mechanism reconstruction for limb-sparing resection of the proximal tibia / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The proximal tibia is the second common site for primary bony sarcomas,which lacks adequate soft tissue coverage.Resection and reconstruction by any technique leave the reconstructed area in a subcutaneous position.This has been a major source of necrosis of skin and infections.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of gastrocnemius muscle transfer to obtain soft-tissue coverage and extensor mechanism reconstruction for limb-sparing resection of the proximal tibia with endoprosthetic reconstruction.METHODS: From January 2001 to June 2008,27 patients with osteosarcoma of the proximal tibia confirmed by biopsy were selected.All the tumours were assigned to stage IIB based on Enneking's classical staging system.Neoadjuvant chemotherapy(Bacci,IOR/OS-N4)was utilized for the patients.All the patients adopted limb-sparing surgery,i.e.resection of proximal tibia with endoprosthetic reconstruction.A gastrocnemius flap was utilized to improve implant coverage and enhance the patellar tendon repair.MSTS was used to measure the functional status of patients with a sarcoma in the leg.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The follow-up was averagely 53.1 months.Of 27 patients,2 cases(7%)died of lung metastasis within 2 years,1(4%)suffered from amputation due to infection and underwent amputation.The others developed no complications or recurrence.The MSTS score was averagely 25.1 points.Results show that resection with endoprosthetic reconstruction utilizing a gastrocnemius muscle flap for osteosarcoma of the proximal tibia is reliable and predictable in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.