[Functional tendon repair in orthopedic tumor surgery]

Large defects of functional soft tissue structures, e.g., extensor mechanism, ligaments, muscles, and joint capsule, may occur in tumor surgery or revision surgery following conventional joint replacement. Reconstruction can be performed using biological grafts such as free or pedicled tendon-muscle flaps, allografts, or synthetic material. Prerequisites for synthetic material are good biologic tolerance with fibroblastic ingrowth, mechanical resistance to fatigue, and a maximum of tension force with a minimum of elongation. In this study we used a nonresorbable band of longitudinal polyester fibers with a minimal rupture level of 4000 N and an elongation rate less than 7% of its original length. The shape of the band was designed for universal use with 40 cm length and 6 cm width. Its primary indication was augmentation or complete reconstruction of the extensor mechanism of the knee joint after large extra-articular tumor resections in primary bone tumors. Furthermore, its use for hip joint capsule reconstruction in luxation, coverage of megaprostheses of the humerus, and augmentation after biological reconstruction of tendons achieved excellent results.