[Application of pasteurized tumor-bearing bone replantation for primary malignant bone tumor of extremities]

To assess the effectiveness of the pasteurized tumor-bearing bone replantation in treatment of primary malignant bone tumor of extremities.

Between February 2012 and June 2016, 13 patients with primary malignant bone tumor of extremities were treated with pasteurized tumor-bearing bone replantation after extensive excision. There were 8 males and 5 females, aged from 11 to 27 years, with an average of 17.4 years. Tumors were located at the mid-upper humerus in 2 cases, the mid-upper femur in 2 cases, the mid-lower femur in 6 cases, the mid-upper tibia in 2 cases, and the middle tibia in 1 case. According to Enneking staging system, 3 patients were classified as stage ⅠB, 5 patients as stage ⅡA, and 5 patients as stage ⅡB. There were 11 cases of osteosarcoma and 2 cases of chondrosarcoma. The disease duration ranged from 3 to 8 months, with an average of 4.8 months. The length of the tumor-bearing bone ranged from 8 to 16 cm, with an average of 12.5 cm. Postoperative follow-up was conducted regularly to evaluate the status of inactivated bone and complications. The limb function was assessed by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 93 (MSTS-93) scoring system.

All 13 patients were followed up 26-79 months, with an average of 50.5 months. Eleven patients survived without tumors. Two patients had local soft tissue recurrence and underwent amputation, 1 had lung metastasis after amputation and died. All patients had no complications of bone resorption, shortening, and internal fixation disorder. The nonunion of osteotomy occurred in 4 cases. Among them, 3 cases were successfully healed after autologous iliac bone grafting, and 1 case was treated conservatively. The healing time of metaphyseal osteotomy end was 10-15 months (mean, 12.6 months), the healing rate was 90.9% (10/11); the healing time of diaphyseal osteotomy end was 12-21 months (mean, 17.0 months), the healing rate was 72.7% (8/11); and the total healing rate of osteotomy end was 81.8% (18/22). One case had inactivated bone fracture and 1 case had incision dehiscence and infection after operation. At last follow-up, the MSTS-93 score of affected limb ranged from 21 to 28, with an average of 25.3.

The procedure of the pasteurized tumor-bearing bone replantation is an effective, simple, and economic way in repair of massive segmental bone defect to save limb function for primary malignant bone tumor of extremities.