Clinical Features and Prognostic Factors in Elderly Ewing Sarcoma Patients.

BACKGROUND Elderly patients with Ewing sarcoma have a very poor prognosis, and treatment remains a challenge. However, the outcomes and potential prognostic factors of elderly Ewing sarcoma patients are rarely documented. Therefore, we investigated the prognosis of this special cohort and determine independent prognostic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cohort of Ewing sarcoma patients aged over 40 years from 1973 to 2015 was identified from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The Kaplan-Meier method and a Cox proportional hazard regression model were used for the prognostic analysis. RESULTS A total of 162 patients were included with a mean age of 53 years. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates of the entire group were 43.7% and 47.9%, respectively. The sex, location, tumor size, and radiation treatment had no effect on survival outcomes on univariate analysis. Tumor stage, surgery, and chemotherapy were significant indicators of both OS and CSS on multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS Surgery in combination with chemotherapy had a significant survival benefit in elderly Ewing sarcoma patients and should be recommended.

[Treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture with subtotal vertebrectomy, decompression and strut grafting through posterolateral approach].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effect of subtotal vertebrectomy, decompression and strut grafting in treating thoracolumbar burst fractures through posterolateral approach via posterior midline incision. METHODS: From May 2005 to July 2008, 14 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures were treated with subtotal vertebrectomy, decompression and strut grafting through posterolateral approach via posterior midline incision. There were 9 males and 5 females, ranging in age from 24 to 68 years, with an average of 42.3 years. All patients were single segment fractures, of them, T11 was in 1 case, T12 in 5, L1 in 5 and L2 in 3. According to AO classification in spinal fracture, type A3 was in 5 cases, B1 in 3, B2 in 3, C1 in 2, C2 in 1. According to the ASIA classification in neurological function, grade A was in 3 cases, B in 3, C in 5, D in 2, E in 1. The height of anterior border vertebral body, volume of spinal canal and neurological function were analyzed by X-ray films, CT scanning and ASIA classification preoperative, postoperative and at final follow-up. RESULTS: Operative time was from 3.5 to 5.5 hours with the mean of 4.0 hours; bleeding during operation was from 800 to 2 600 ml with the mean of 1 300 ml. Two cases with nerve root injury recovered without special handling after 3-6 months; 1 case with leakage of cerebrospinal fluid restored through lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage; 1 case with pleura tear healed through closed thoracic drainage. No iatrogenic vascular injury or infection was found. The follow-up time was from 8 to 36 months with the mean of 16.5 months. All patients had neurofunctional recovery at different degree, except that 3 patients in grade A. The height of anterior border vetebral body restored from (42.25 +/- 11.87)% preoperatively to (94.38 +/- 3.08)% postoperatively, and (92.87 +/- 3.32)% at final follow-up (P<0.05); volume of spinal canal (the actual volume of spinal canal/normal volume of spine canal) increased from (45.63 +/- 6.88)% preoperatively to (95.26 +/- 3.31)% postoperatively, and (96.13 +/- 2.56)% at final follow-up (P<0.05). Cobb angle were corrected from (25.64 +/- 4.40) degrees preoperatively to (5.80 +/- 1.14) degrees postoperatively; Cobb angle lost from 0 degrees to 6 degrees at final follow-up with (8.10 +/- 2.65) degrees. All patients obtained complete bony fusion without pseudarthrosis formation at final follow-up. CONCLUSION: Subtotal vertebrectomy decompression and strut grafting through posterolateral approach via posterior midline incision is an effective and safe method in treating thoracolumbar burst fracture, which can restored height of intervertebral body, volume of spinal canal and physiological flexion of spinal column, and retain spinal permanent stability.