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Published on: September 9, 2020
Do pathological fractures influence survival and local recurrence rate in bony sarcomas?
J A M Bramer1, A A Abudu, R J Grimer
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery G4-244, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. jbramer@wxs.nl
Abstract:
The influence of pathological fracture on surgical management, local recurrence and survival was established in patients with high grade, localised, extremity osteosarcoma (n=484), chondrosarcoma (n=130) and Ewing's sarcoma (n=156). Limb salvage was possible in 79% of patients with a fracture compared to 84% of patients without a fracture (p=0.17). No difference in local recurrence was found between fracture and control groups. In univariate analysis, survival in the fracture group was lower than in the control group for osteosarcoma (34% versus 58%, p<0.01) and chondrosarcoma (35% versus 63%, p=0.04), but not for Ewing's sarcoma (75% versus 64%, p=0.80). In multivariate analysis, fracture remained a significant predictor of survival for osteosarcoma, but not for chondrosarcoma, where dedifferentiated subtype appeared to be decisive. Pathological fracture independently predicts worse survival in osteosarcoma, but not chondrosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. Limb saving surgery seems safe, if adequate resection margins are achieved.
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