Recycled bone grafts treated with extracorporeal irradiation or liquid nitrogen freezing after malignant tumor...

Recycled bone autografts prepared using extracorporeal irradiation (ECIR) or liquid nitrogen freezing (LNF) methods have been used for the reconstruction of skeletal elements after wide resection of sarcomas involving bone tissues. Few reports include long-term follow-up data for histological analyses of recycled autografts, particularly in the case of ECIR autografts.

A total of 34 malignant bone and soft tissue tumors were resected and reconstructed using 11 ECIR- and 23 LNF-recycled autografts; the mean postoperative follow-ups were 14 and 8 years, respectively. ECIR was used for either osteosarcomas or Ewing sarcomas, whereas in addition to these tumors LNF was used for chondrosarcomas and soft tissue sarcomas involving bone tissues. Recycled bone was implanted as total bone, osteoarticular, or intercalary grafts, with or without prosthesis or vascularized fibular grafts.

The 10-year graft survival rate was similar between groups, 81.8% using ECIR and 70.2% using LNF. There were no autograft-related tumor recurrences in either group. Graft survival was unrelated to type of graft or additional procedures. Complication rates tended to be higher using ECIR (64%) compared with LNF (52%) and the infection rate was significantly higher with ECIR (27%) versus LNF (0%). At the final assessment, plain radiographs revealed original recycled bone was present in 7 of 11 ECIR cases and in zero cases treated with LNF autografts, indicating that recycled bone treated with LNF autografts was remodeled into new bone. Histological examination of ECIR-treated bones revealed a delayed and incomplete endochondral ossification process, necrosis and empty lacunae. Conversely, LNF autografts showed remodeled bones with normal trabecular structures.

ECIR and LNF treatment of autografts provided adequate tumor control with acceptable clinical results as a reconstruction method.