[Autoclaved tumoral autografts. Apropos of 12 cases, 6 of which highly malignant]

Twelve patients presenting with a bone tumor were operated on using autoclaved bone autografts for reconstruction following carcinologic resection. According to the Enneking grading system, 6 were high malignancy tumors (3 osteosarcomas and 3 grade 2 chondrosarcomas), 4 were low grade tumors (1 paraosteal sarcoma, 1 chondrosarcoma, 1 secondary chondrosarcoma, 1 liposarcoma). One was a metastasis from a kidney tumor. The last patient had a femoral osteoid osteoma. Six local recurrences were responsible for 4 reoperations: 2 disarticulations and 2 iterative resections. With a 1-6 years range of follow-up (average follow-up 2.5 years), osseointegration of autoclaved grafts was studied. Fusion at the host/graft junction was roentgenographically observed. In three cases, proximal resorption of the humeral graft occurred. Five biopsies were obtained during reoperation after 1 year, which showed partial revascularization of autoclaved bone autografts. The authors conclude that autoclaved tumoral bone grafts, are reliable and discuss indications. They point out the main contraindication, represented by chemosensitive bone tumors, in which conservation of the removed tumor is necessary to quantify the response to chemotherapy.