Limb reconstruction with the callus distraction method after bone tumor resection

The callus distraction method was applied to nine patients who were referred to us because of a bone tumor. Their mean age was 17 years and 3 months (range 7-37 years). Three were female, and 6 were male. All of the tumors were localised on the femur, and the histological diagnosis was two chondrosarcomas, one Ewing's sarcoma, three osteosarcomas, one giant cell bone tumor, and the remainder benign fibrous histiocytoma. The mean length of the defect after resection of the tumor was 11.5 (range 8-20) cm. Preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy were applied to patients with osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. The patients were followed up for 22 (range 15-30) months on average. The mean period of use of the external fixator was 12.5 (range 8-18) months. One patient suffered a tumour recurrence and died after 20 months. Complications included one deep infection, one skin invagination, and one premature consolidation and bone bridge in the defect area. All of the complications were successfully treated. Functional evaluation gave excellent results in four patients, good in three, and fair in two. This method can be used without any need for massive autogenous bone graft in repairing defects of any length and diameter produced after excision of the lesion and thus can be considered as an alternative to other techniques.