The treatment of locally recurrent chondrosarcoma: Is extensive further surgery justified?

The aim of this study was to define the treatment criteria for patients with recurrent chondrosarcoma. We reviewed the data of 77 patients to examine the influence of factors such as the intention of treatment (curative/palliative), extent of surgery, resection margins, status of disease at the time of local recurrence and the grade of the tumour. A total of 70 patients underwent surgery for recurrent chondrosarcoma.

Intramedullary and total femur replacement in revision arthroplasty as a last limb-saving option: is there any benefit from the less invasive intramedullary replacement?

There has been a substantial increase in the number of hip and knee prostheses implanted in recent years, with a consequent increase in the number of revisions required. Total femur replacement (TFR) following destruction of the entire femur, usually after several previous revision operations, is a rare procedure but is the only way of avoiding amputation. Intramedullary femur replacement (IFR) with preservation of the femoral diaphysis is a modification of TFR.

Publication rate of abstracts presented at the Annual Congress of the German Society of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery.

Introduction: The quality of abstracts presented at medical conferences reflects the scientific activity in the organisations involved. The aims of this study were to evaluate the publication rate of studies presented at the annual congress of the German Society of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery and to investigate predictive factors for publication. The results were to be compared with other international meetings.

Adjuvant therapy for resectable high-risk soft tissue sarcoma: feasibility and efficacy of a sandwich chemoradiotherapy strategy.

Purpose: Radical definitive surgery is the only curative treatment approach in resectable soft tissue sarcoma. Despite complete resection, patients with grade 2 and 3 soft tissue sarcoma are at high risk of local or distant recurrence. Local and systemic adjuvant treatment includes radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but the optimal scheduling is not known.

The Burch-Schneider cage for reconstruction after metastatic destruction of the acetabulum: outcome and complications.

Introduction: The Burch-Schneider cage is an established implant in revision surgery after hip arthroplasty that is used for reconstructing osseous defects in the acetabulum. However, there are only a few reports about the use of cages in patients with metastatic destruction of the acetabulum. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the outcome and complications of this procedure.

A short-term in vivo model for giant cell tumor of bone.

Background: Because of the lack of suitable in vivo models of giant cell tumor of bone (GCT), little is known about its underlying fundamental pro-tumoral events, such as tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. There is no existing cell line that contains all the cell and tissue tumor components of GCT and thus in vitro testing of anti-tumor agents on GCT is not possible. In this study we have characterized a new method of growing a GCT tumor on a chick chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) for this purpose.

Hip transposition as a limb salvage procedure following the resection of periacetabular tumors.

Background And Objectives: One of the most difficult problems in tumor surgery is the treatment of pelvic tumors, particularly those in the periacetabular region. This retrospective study serves to analyze clinical and functional outcome of the new surgical technique of hip transposition.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-two patients were analyzed (chondrosarcoma 15, Ewing's sarcoma or PNET 26, osteosarcoma 14, synovial cell sarcoma 2, others 5) and clinical, oncological, and functional outcome were evaluated.

Pediatric patients with a malignant bone tumor: when does functional assessment make sense?

Purpose: The diagnosis of a malignant bone tumor in the lower limb is a risk factor for physical disability, limiting physical performance. Walking ability especially, which is essential for most activities of daily living, is limited in those patients. In the present study, the extent of limitations during the course of treatment was investigated to determine when the assessment of functional parameters is meaningful in those patients.

Proximal fibula resection in the treatment of bone tumours.

Background And Objectives: We present a large study of patients with proximal fibula resection. Moreover we describe a new classification system for tumour resection of the proximal fibula independent of the tumour differentiation.

Methods: In 57 patients the functional and clinical outcomes were evaluated.

Early decrements in bone density after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pediatric bone sarcoma patients.

Background: Bone mineral density (BMD) accrual during childhood and adolescence is important for attaining peak bone mass. BMD decrements have been reported in survivors of childhood bone sarcomas. However, little is known about the onset and development of bone loss during cancer treatment.

[Monarthritis of the ankle due to osteoid osteoma of the talus. Difficulties in diagnosis and treatment].

The case of a 22-year-old man with an osteoid osteoma of the right talus neck is reported. After 2 years of pain and swelling we confirmed the diagnosis by CT and MRI scan. Afterwards we performed CT-guided thermocoagulation; 12 months afterwards the patient shows no symptoms anymore.

Cytotoxic effect of clodronate and zoledronate on the chondrosarcoma cell lines HTB-94 and CAL-78.

The wide surgical tumour resection is the only effective treatment in chondrosarcoma. However, a major problem remains the high rate of local recurrences and metastases due to the lack of adjuvant therapies. In this study the cytotoxic effect of the bisphosphonate clodronate (0.

[The significance of radiation therapy for symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas (SVH)].

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of radiation therapy (RT) for symptomatic vertebral hemangioma (SVH).

Material And Methods: Based on the Registry for Rare Benign Disorders (RRBD) of the German Cooperative Group on Radiation Therapy for Benign Diseases (GCG-BD), the clinical information, treatment plans and outcome data from seven cooperating German RT institutions were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Over a period of 39 years (1969-2008), a total of 84 patients with 96 symptomatic lesions underwent RT.

Surgical difficulties encountered with use of modular endoprosthesis for limb preserving salvage of failed allograft reconstruction after malignant tumor resection.

We reviewed outcomes and discussed surgical difficulties encountered in 10 patients who had modular endoprosthesis for limb preserving salvage of failed allograft reconstruction after malignant tumor resection. Mean allograft survival time before failure was 127.4 months (range, 14-264 months).

The Modular Universal Tumour And Revision System (MUTARS®) in endoprosthetic revision surgery.

The aim of this study was to present the clinical and functional results of revision surgery after failed hip endoprostheses using the Modular Universal Tumour And Revision System (MUTARS®). Functional results of the hip endoprostheses were recorded by applying the Harris hip score. The extent of the presurgical radiological bone defect was measured according to the classification system of the German orthopaedic association (DGOOC).

Morphologic characterization of osteosarcoma growth on the chick chorioallantoic membrane.

Background: The chick chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) assay is a commonly used method for studying angiogenic or anti-angiogenic activities in vivo. The ease of access allows direct monitoring of tumour growth by biomicroscopy and the possibility to screen many samples in an inexpensive way. The CAM model provides a powerful tool to study effects of molecules, which interfere with physiological angiogenesis, or experimental tumours derived from cancer cell lines.

[Proximal femur replacement in revision arthroplasty].

Aim: Today, megaendoprostheses--which were originally designed for osseous defect reconstructions in tumour surgery--are being more frequently used for extensive bone defects in revision arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to assess the complication rate and the functional results associated with megaendoprosthesis reconstruction of the proximal femur in a non-oncological patient group.

Method: 28 patients (average age 72; SD 10 years) with a proximal femur replacement were retrospectively (mean follow-up 43 months) evaluated regarding the complication rate.

[The bipolar cup Avantage in hip revision surgery].

Background: Luxations in revision arthroplasty are a serious complication with an incidence of up to 30 percent. In particular in patients with previous operation and resection of bone and soft tissue, the instability increases significantly. The use of the bipolar revision cup Avantage has to be proven valuable to avoid recurrent luxation.

Recreational sport activity after total replacement of the first metatarsophalangeal joint: a prospective study.

First metatarsophalangeal joint replacement is an alternative surgical procedure to arthrodesis in the treatment of moderate-to-severe hallux rigidus. However, few studies have been published about functional outcome after joint reconstructive procedures for hallux rigidus. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical, radiological and functional outcome, with special regard to recreational and sports activity, after first metatarsophalangeal joint replacement in patients affected by hallux rigidus grade III.

Treatment of stem fractures in tumor prostheses by connecting different systems with a special adapter.

In long-term survivors, oncologic surgeons are regularly faced with the problem of revising stem breakage of first generation Kotz modular femoral and tibial reconstruction system (KMFTR) prostheses. To avoid a whole prosthesis-exchange, we invented an adapter which allows connecting original KMFTR devices to new modular universal tumor and revision system (MUTARS) components. The adapter was used in 10 patients after a mean time span of 16.

The value of local treatment in patients with primary, disseminated, multifocal Ewing sarcoma (PDMES).

Background: The value of local treatment in patients with primary, disseminated, multifocal Ewing sarcoma (PDMES) was investigated.

Methods: We analyzed 120 patients registered into the European Ewing Tumor Working Initiative of National Groups (EURO-E.W.

Treatment and outcome of giant cell tumors of the pelvis.

Background And Purpose: Giant cell tumors (GCTs) of bone rarely affect the pelvis. We report on 20 cases that have been treated at our institution during the last 20 years.

Methods: 20 patients with histologically benign GCT of the pelvis were included in this study.

Radiotherapy for symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas: results of a multicenter study and literature review.

Purpose: The current study analyzes the potential role of radiotherapy (RT) in symptomatic vertebral hemangioma (SVH).

Methods And Materials: Seven cooperating German institutions collected clinical information, treatment plans, and outcome data for all patients with SVH referred for local RT.

Results: From 1969 to 2008, a total of 84 patients with 96 symptomatic lesions were irradiated for SVH.

Limb-salvage reconstruction with MUTARS hemipelvic endoprosthesis: a prospective multicenter study.

Background: Limb-sparing surgery with hemipelvic megaprosthetic replacement is often limited by the high rate of associated complications. The aim of this evaluation was to assess clinical and oncological findings with respect to type, treatment and outcome of post-operative complications.

Methods: First results of 40 patients treated with individual MUTARS hemipelvic endoprostheses were evaluated in a prospective multicenter study.