[Temporary plugging of cystic bone tumors by bone cement (author's transl)]

Methylmethacrylate bone cement was used to refill bony defects following excisional biopsy of supposed benign or semimalign bone tumors. This procedure offers several advantages: the anatomical situation at the site of the lesion will not be altered, that means the functions of the joint and the continuity and stability of the bone will be preserved; the histological examination of the tissue is possible without a hurry; the follow up of the lesion is easily possible by X-ray-examination; further therapeutic procedures can follow without restriction, for example if the histology discovered an unsuspected malignant tumor or if the follow-up revealed a recurrency. In addition a favorable effect is the necrosis of tumor cells, eventually left behind in the bone, by the action of zytotoxic monomer and heat, originated during the polymerisation of the methylmethacrylate. In benign or semimalignant bone tumors the cement has to be removed after an adequate observation period; at this occasion the cavity again is curetted and then filled with autologous bone grafts. Since 1972 we treated 13 bone lesions by this method of "temporary bone cement plugging". The lesions were 5 giant cell tumors, 2 aneurysmal bone cysts, 2 simple bone cysts, 1 osteosarcoma, 1 malignant lymphoma, and 2 metastases of hypernephroid carcinoma. In the case of osteosarcoma an amputation was performed just after the diagnosis was made. In the other cases no local recurrances up to now were seen.