[Tumor endoprosthesis in malignant bone tumors]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Oncology
• Biomaterials Science
• Surgical Reconstruction

Background:

• The University of Vienna's Department of Orthopedics has a long history of using tumor endoprostheses.
• Early development focused on modular systems for upper extremity and knee joint tumor resections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term efficacy and survival outcomes of tumor endoprostheses in limb tumor resections.
• To compare the survival rates of patients treated with endoprosthetic reconstruction versus amputation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of patient data from 1974 to 1990, including upper extremity and knee joint tumor resections.
• Utilized modular and custom-made endoprostheses made from ceramic and titanium alloys.
• Assessed disease-free survival rates and compared outcomes between reconstruction and amputation groups.

Main Results:

• For upper extremity resections, 75.4% achieved adequate resection, with a mean disease-free survival of 106.1 months in 36 patients.
• For knee joint resections, 89.3% had adequate resection, with 75% (24 of 32) achieving disease-free survival of at least 24 months (mean 48.2 months).
• Overall, 77.8% of 213 patients undergoing resection/reconstruction with endoprostheses survived >24 months, compared to 69.4% of 146 patients who underwent amputation.

Conclusions:

• Modular tumor endoprostheses provide a successful limb-sparing treatment option for bone tumors.
• Endoprosthetic reconstruction demonstrates superior survival rates compared to amputation in the studied patient cohorts.
• Continued development and application of tumor endoprostheses are crucial in orthopedic oncology for improving patient outcomes.