Surgical treatment for pelvic Ewing sarcoma: What is a safe and functional acetabular reconstruction when combined with modern multidisciplinary treatments?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify which local treatment is oncologically and functionally effective in pelvic Ewing sarcoma (ES).

Methods: A consecutive series of patients who underwent pelvic resections and acetabular reconstructions after chemotherapy between 1986 and 2016 at a supra-regional center were evaluated.

Results: The cohort consisted of 35 patients. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) was 61% and 72%, respectively. Preoperative radiotherapy (RT) and surgery provided an excellent/good histological response in 92% and achieved significantly better OS (5 years, 64%) and LRFS (5 years, 100%) than surgery alone or surgery with postoperative RT. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional scores were significantly better in patients with hip transposition than those with structural reconstructions (74% vs 57%; P = .031) using custom-made prostheses, irradiated autografts, and ice-cream cone prostheses. These scores were significantly lower if patients had deep infection (P = .035), which was the most common complication (28%) in structural reconstructions but did not occur in hip transposition even when performed after preoperative RT.

Conclusion: Acetabular reconstruction with hip transposition resulted in no deep infection and superior function in patients with pelvic ES even when combined with preoperative RT, which improved tumor necrosis and rate of local control and survival.