[Limb-saving surgery of malignant bone tumors using massive bone grafts]

The artificial materials in limb-saving surgery pose problems such as the age of patient, tolerance and stability. Thus, massive bone grafting should be reconsidered. In our clinic, out of 78 patients having malignant bone tumors, 29 received limb-saving surgery, and 10 of these cases received massive bone grafting using autografts and/or frozen allografts between 1968 and 1987. There were 7 cases with osteosarcoma, 1 case with mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, 1 case with leiomyosarcoma and 1 case with malignant fibrous histiocytoma. There were 5 males and 5 females ranging in age from 11 years to 44 years, and averaging 21 years. According to Enneking's staging system, these were all II-B cases. The median follow-up period was 71 mos, ranging from 13 to 239 mos. According to the modified Amago evaluation method, 80% of these cases had an excellent prognosis, one had a recurrence, but in all cases good bone union and stability were achieved without immunological reaction. Therefore we conclude that massive bone grafts in cases of malignant bone tumor surgery is a very beneficial method.