The effect of adjuvant cryotherapy added to well-performed high-speed burr curettage on the long-term surgical outcomes of chondroblastoma cases.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effect of adjuvant cryotherapy added to well-performed high-speed burr curettage on the long-term surgical outcomes of chondroblastoma cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2004 and December 2020, a total of 30 chondroblastoma cases (19 males, 11 females; median age: 18.6 years; range, 9 to 53 years) who were surgically treated were retrospectively analyzed. The pressurized-spray technique was performed using liquid nitrogen. Data including age, sex, radiological appearance, treatment modality, duration of follow-up, skin problems, and recurrence were recorded. All patients received adjuvant liquid nitrogen cryotherapy after extended intralesional curettage with high-speed burr. The bone cavity was filled with an autologous iliac crest bone graft, allograft, or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). RESULTS: The median follow-up was 54 (range, 19 to 120) months. The lesion was located around the knee in 16 (53.3%), in the shoulder in seven (23.3%), around the hip in five (16.6%), and in the ankle in two (6.6%) cases. The defect was filled with an autologous iliac crest bone graft in 28 (93.3%), an additional allograft in eight (26.7%), and PMMA in two (6.7%) cases. Local recurrence was observed in only two (6.7%) patients during follow-up. Two (6.7%) patients developed physeal growth arrest. Osteoarthritic changes were observed in two (6.7%) patients (one knee and one hip) due to the periarticular location of the tumor. Three (10%) patients had skin complications. None of the cases had a pathological fracture. CONCLUSION: A well-performed extended intralesional curettage with high-speed burr is the first and essential step in treating chondroblastoma. Adding adjuvant liquid nitrogen cryotherapy with high-speed burr can improve treatment outcomes and significantly reduce the recurrence rate of this disease.

Analysis of prognostic factors and histopathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in osteosarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine the clinical results of patients who underwent medical and surgical treatment for osteosarcoma, to determine the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates, and to examine the effects of prognostic factors on these rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2005 and January 2020, a total of 64 patients (38 males, 26 females; mean age: 20.9±11.5 years; range, 6 to 70 years) who received medical and surgical treatment for osteosarcoma were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, follow-up period, tumor location and size, tumor stage and necrosis rate, metastatic disease, surgical treatments, postoperative complications, local recurrence, and metastasis were recorded. The relationship of these factors with the survival was examined. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 51.6 (range, 3 to 156) months. The most common tumor localization was in the distal femur with 42 (65.6%) patients and the most common histopathological subtypes were conventional osteosarcoma in 50 (78.1%) patients. The OS rates were 91.6% at one year, 65.9% at five years, and 51.6% at 10 years. With the exception of two patients who died during neoadjuvant chemotherapy, all patients underwent surgical treatment. The addition of chemotherapy + radiotherapy in the treatment did not provide any benefits in terms of survival and recurrence compared to the group that was not added, and the five-year OS rate was 79.3% compared to 20.7%, respectively. The overall 10-year survival rates were 83.9% and 37.2% in the group with a good response (≥90%) and poor response (<90%) to treatment (p=0.012). The mean survival time of three patients who presented with pathological fractures was shorter than the others (p>0.05). Surgical margin was ≤2 mm in 27 (42.2%) patients, >2 mm in 30 (46.9%) patients, and surgical margin was positive in five (7.8%) patients. The mean OS in the group with a surgical margin closure of >2 mm was 10.8±1.9 years and was longer than the other groups (p=0.047). CONCLUSION: Metastasis at the time of diagnosis, <90% tumor necrosis, a tumor size of ≥10 cm, and metastasis development were significantly associated with poor survival and were found to be independent prognostic factors. The OS rate in the patient group with Stage III-IV response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy given the cisplatin + doxorubicin protocol was found to be better than those given the European and American Osteosarcoma Studies (EURAMOS) protocol. More research is needed to determine the most optimal chemotherapy protocols in this patient population. In addition, a multidisciplinary approach in treatment is of utmost importance to improve oncological outcomes.

Multiple platelet-rich plasma injections are superior to single PRP injections or saline in osteoarthritis of the knee: the 2-year results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The primary purposes of this study were to prove the efficacy of PRP injection therapy on knee pain and functions by comparing patients with mild to moderate OA with a placebo control group, and also to understand the effectiveness of multiple doses compared to a single dose. It was hypothesized that PRP would lead to more favorable results than the placebo at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 237 patients diagnosed with OA were randomly separated into 4 groups, who were administered the following: single dose of PRP (n: 62), single dose of sodium saline (NS) (n: 59), three doses of PRP (n: 63), and three doses of NS (n: 53). Clinical evaluations were made pre-treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months post-treatment, using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Result Score (KOOS), Kujala Patellofemoral Score, knee joint range of motion (ROM), measurements of knee circumference (KC), and mechanical axis angle (MAA) and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for the evaluation of pain. RESULTS: The better score values in the groups were recorded at 3 and 6 months. Patients treated with PRP maintained better scores at 3, 6 and 12 months compared to the NS groups (p < 0.05). Multiple doses of PRP were seen to be more effective than single-dose PRP at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.05). At the end of 24 months, there was no significant score difference across all the groups. The most positive change in scores was found in stage 2 OA, and the most positive change in ROM was in stage 3 OA patients. In the PRP groups, KC decreased more at 1 and 6 months (p < 0.05). Compared to other age groups, patients aged 51-65 years scored better at 6 months (p < 0.05). A negative correlation was determined with MAA scores (r = - 0.508, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In comparison to the placebo (NS), leukocyte-rich PRP treatment was determined to be effective in the treatment of OA. Multiple doses of PRP increase the treatment efficacy and duration. Of all the patients treated with PRP, the best results were obtained by patients aged 51-65 years, with lower MAA, and by K/L stage 2 OA patients. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. REGISTRATION: NCT04454164 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Extra-abdominal desmoid fibromatosis: An evaluation of clinical factors affecting local recurrence rates.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic factors for recurrence in patients with extra-abdominal desmoid tumors (EDTs) treated surgically. METHODS: This single-institution, retrospective study included patients with a histologically-proven extra-abdominal desmoid tumor between 2007 and 2018. The demographic characteristics (age, sex) of the patients, tumor characteristics (region, size, proximity to neurovascular structures, margins), treatment management (surgery and/or adjuvant radiotherapy), and clinical results were analyzed. The effects of these possible prognostic factors on overall and disease-free survival rates and the risk of local recurrence were evaluated. RESULTS: Evaluation was made of 22 patients (16 females, 6 males) with a mean age at diagnosis of 34.7 years (range = 22-76 years). The mean follow-up was 104 months (range = 4.8-168). Tumor localization was in the upper extremity in 4 patients (18.1%), the lower extremity in 11 (50.0%), and the trunk in 7 (31.8%). The mean tumor size (maximum diameter) was 5.2 cm (range = 0.6-13 cm; median = 5.8 cm), and the mean tumor volume was 181.3 ± 531.4 ml. All the 22 patients were treated surgically along with adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) administered to 8 in addition to surgery for the primary treatment of the tumor. Following primary surgery, resection margins were R0 in 11 patients, R1 in 9 and R2 in 2. Local recurrence (LR) developed in 6 patients (27.2%) during the follow-up period. Recurrence-free survival rate (RFS) was 90.9% at one year, 74.1% at 5 years, and 61.7% at 10 years. During the follow-up, no patient died, and distant metastasis was not detected. Tumor length, resection margins, and adjuvant RT were observed to influence the risk of local recurrence (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study have demonstrated that tumor size ≥ 5 cm and the presence of microscopic or macroscopic positive surgical margins can increase the risk of LR, and adjuvant RT can reduce the development of LR in the management of EDT.

Osteoid Osteoma of the Distal Phalanx of the Foot: An Atypical Location.

Osteoid osteoma is a benign tumor originating from osteoblasts, and it is mostly seen in long bones of lower limbs. The distal phalanx of the foot is an atypical location for an osteoid osteoma, and lesions occurring in this location may be a diagnostic challenge. A 22-year-old man presented with a complaint of severe pain on the second distal phalanx of his right foot. An osteoid osteoma was suspected after radiologic evaluation. The lesion was surgically excised and removed completely by curettage. Histopathologic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of an osteoid osteoma. The patient was followed-up for a 9-month period without any symptoms or recurrence.