Segmental endoprosthesis replacement in a resource-constrained setting.

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic surgery
• Limb reconstruction
• Oncology

Background:

• Endoprosthetic use has expanded beyond oncology to complex trauma and arthroplasty.
• Resource-constrained settings face challenges in adopting endoprosthetic solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of segmental endoprosthetic replacement in a resource-limited setting.
• To identify factors influencing the use of endoprosthesis in sub-Saharan Africa.

Main Methods:

• A case series of twelve patients undergoing segmental endoprosthetic replacement.
• Assessment of resection lengths, complications (Henderson classification), and functional outcomes (MusculoSkeletal Tumour Society score).

Main Results:

• Resection lengths ranged from 12 to 27 cm.
• Complications included Type 1A (8.3%), Type 3A (8.3%), and Type 4A (16.6%).
• Ten patients achieved good to excellent functional outcomes, one had moderate, and one had poor outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Early results suggest fair functional outcomes with endoprosthetic replacement.
• Persistent challenges include high endoprosthesis costs, equipment availability, and specialist training in sub-Saharan Africa.