Treatment of benign bone tumours using external fixation

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Oncology

Background:

• Benign bone tumors present challenges in limb deformity and defect management.
• External fixation offers a versatile approach for complex orthopedic reconstructions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of external fixators in treating benign bone tumors.
• To assess outcomes for deformity correction, limb-length discrepancy, and bone defect reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 31 patients (43 limbs) with various benign tumors.
• Utilized diverse external fixator devices including Ilizarov and Taylor Spatial Frame.
• Analyzed data on diagnoses, affected bones, fixation devices, follow-up duration, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Successful treatment of Ollier's disease, fibrous dysplasia, osteochondroma, and other benign tumors.
• Mean angular correction of 23 degrees and external fixation index of 42 days/cm for lengthening.
• All patients returned to normal activities; low rates of revision surgery and local recurrence.

Conclusions:

• External fixation is a reliable method for managing benign bone tumors, addressing associated deformities and defects.
• Achieved significant functional recovery and skeletal correction in a diverse patient cohort.
• Low complication rates suggest external fixation is a safe and effective treatment modality.