Comparative assessment of gait after limb-salvage procedures

We performed metabolic studies of gait in eighteen patients who had had above-the-knee amputation, block resection and arthrodesis of the knee, or block resection and rotationplasty for a malignant tumor of the distal end of the femur or the proximal end of the tibia. According to the measurement of consumption of oxygen, the patients who had had rotationplasty walked most efficiently. Those who had had arthrodesis used more oxygen and walked at a slower rate.     

Hip rotationplasty for malignant tumors of the proximal part of the femur

Disarticulation of the hip and hemipelvectomy have been the only surgical alternatives available for the adequate local control of malignant tumors of the proximal part of the femur in patients who are still growing. The use of proximal or total femoral implants is restricted to patients who have reached skeletal maturity. To improve the quality of survival for patients who have not yet reached skeletal maturity and have a malignant tumor of the proximal part of the femur, I have modified the rotationplasty procedure described by Van Nes for use in such lesions. After en bloc resection of the tumor, the distal part of the femur with the knee joint and leg is rotated 180 degrees and fixed to the lateral side of the pelvis. The knee joint then functions as a hinge hip joint and the ankle joint functions as a knee joint. This procedure was performed in eight patients, three of whom were followed for more than two years. All patients walked well with a prosthesis and the functional results were excellent. At the time of writing, there had been no recurrence of a tumor or pulmonary metastasis.     

膝关节旋转成形术治疗儿童股骨骨肉瘤

目的：介绍并讨论膝关节旋转成形术治疗股骨骨肉瘤的方法和随访结果。材料和方法，对4例股骨远端的骨肉瘤患儿施行了肿瘤广泛局部切除，膝关节旋转成形术，其中女1例，男3例，平均年龄10岁，平均随访3年。结果：目前所有病例均成活，肿瘤局部无复发，术后佩戴义肢，下肢的负重和运动功能好。结论：踝关节代替膝关节旋转成形术对于膝关节周围的原发恶性肿瘤、肿瘤术后局部复发等也是另一种有效的手术治疗方法。     

Rotationplasty after failure of a knee prosthesis for a malignant tumour of the distal femur

Failure of massive knee endoprostheses implanted for malignant tumours of the distal femur in children presents a difficult problem. We present the results of rotationplasty undertaken under these circumstances in four boys. They had been treated initially at a mean age of 9.5 years for a stage-IIB malignant tumour of the distal femur by resection and implantation of a massive knee endoprosthesis. After a mean period of eight years and a mean of four operative procedures, there was failure of the endoprosthesis because of aseptic loosening in two and infection in two. Function was poor with a mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score of 7.5/30, and considerable associated psychological problems. At a mean follow-up of 4.5 years after rotationplasty there was excellent function with a mean score of 27.5/30 and resolution of the psychological problems.     

Evaluation of the lymph flow with lymphoscintigraphy after rotationplasty for the treatment of bone tumors.

We studied the cases of eleven patients in whom a rotationplasty had been done after wide resection of the distal part of the femur. All patients had had a malignant tumor of bone, but none had the complication of edema or leakage of lymph after the rotationplasty. We made lymphoscintiscans soon after the operation in four patients and weeks or months later in all eleven patients. There was a delay in the flow of lymph in three of the four patients who were examined lymphoscintigraphically soon after the operation and there was obstruction of flow in the fourth patient, but there was evidence of a decreased rate of flow in only two of the eleven patients at the time of the later examination.     

Rotationplasty after failed limb-sparing tumor surgery: a report of two cases

Rotationplasty was used in two cases of failed limb salvage in adults after tumor resection and reconstruction. Each patient had distal femoral osteosarcoma, one treated with osteoarticular allograft reconstruction, the other with a custom endoprosthetic reconstruction. Both patients had failure attributable to infection, and after multiple surgeries, elected to have rotationplasty. Both had complications associated with the rotationplasty but went on to have functional limbs with Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional scores of 67% and 87%. One patient died of metastatic disease 29 months after rotationplasty, the other had no problems 50 months after rotationplasty. Although rotationplasty offers a functional improvement over transfemoral amputation in the salvage of failed tumor reconstructions, only 10 such cases have been reported in adults. Rotationplasty should be considered in selected patients for whom an amputation is being considered after failed limb salvage surgery.     

Functional outcome of patients with rotationplasty about the knee

Rotationplasty is a surgical procedure designed to achieve a durable reconstruction after the resection of tumors about the knee. However, because of the recent advances with expandable prostheses, rotationplasty has been less popular in the skeletally immature patient, particularly in the United States. We assessed the functional outcome of patients who had rotationplasty to allow better comparison with other operative techniques in this patient population. Seven patients, who were operated on at our institution at an average age of 9.4 years (range, 5-14 years), had a followup of at least 4 years and were evaluated in the Motion Analysis Laboratory. The gait analysis included kinetic, kinematic and temporal-distance parameters to evaluate the patient's functional performance. The data also were compared with measurements of a population of 25 able-bodied subjects and with four subjects with distal above-knee amputation. All patients had the ability to weightbear fully. All patients ambulated without assistive devices. Gait analysis of patients with rotationplasty revealed only slight asymmetry regarding stride duration, stride length, cadence, velocity and stance-swing ratio compared with healthy subjects. Although the gait was similar to subjects with distal above-knee amputation, knee motion was superior in patients who had rotationplasty. Rotationplasty offers a durable reconstruction. Rotationplasty allows the patient to actively control the knee, which results in a coordinated gait pattern, which is similar to the gait of the able-bodied population, and better than in subjects with distal-knee amputation.     

肿瘤型假体重建膝关节周围原发性肿瘤切除后骨缺损

目的总结膝关节周围原发性骨肿瘤保肢手术中人工关节重建的疗效和并发症。方法回顾性分析我院1995年12月至2005年12月83例应用肿瘤型假体重建膝关节周围骨肿瘤切除后骨缺损的临床资料。其中骨肉瘤58例,多中心骨肉瘤2例,皮质旁骨肉瘤1例,恶性纤维组织细胞瘤4例,骨巨细胞瘤13例,平滑肌肉瘤1例,尤文肉瘤2例,软骨肉瘤2例。根据骨缺损重建部位分组：股骨下端组44例,胫骨上端组34例,全股骨置换组5例。结果所有患者均获得随访,随访时间12～130个月,平均41个月。局部复发6例,2例晚期感染,假体松动2例,无假体断裂;假体3、5年生存率分别为88．2％、82．1％。41例植骨患者形成皮质外骨桥。肢体肌肉骨骼肿瘤外科治疗重建术后功能评分：股骨下端组19．0—29．0分,平均25．0分;胫骨上端组17．0—28．0分,平均24．4分;全股骨置换组16．0—21．0分,平均19．0分。股骨下端组和胫骨上端组功能优于全股骨置换。结论肿瘤型人工关节重建膝关节周围骨肿瘤并发症发生率低,关节功能良好。     

肿瘤型膝关节假体置换术后膝关节力线改变的临床研究

目的探讨肿瘤型膝关节假体置换术后膝关节力线的改变,分析其发生原因、影响及预防方法。方法选择定制型膝关节肿瘤假体置换患者10例,手术前、后均拍摄膝关节非负重正侧位X线片。测量参数：（1）胫股冠状角（FTA）：胫骨与股骨解剖轴之间的夹角;（2）胫骨平台一骨干角：胫骨平台关节面与胫骨解剖轴之间的夹角;（3）胫骨平台后倾角：在膝关节侧位像上,分别沿胫骨上关节面及胫骨前缘做切线,再向胫骨上关节面切线与胫骨前缘作垂线,其交角即为胫骨平台后倾角,表示胫骨平台向后倾斜。数据进行统计分析,比较术前、术后上述参数之间的差异。结果术前和术后胫股冠状角（FTA）、胫骨平台一骨干角、胫骨平台后倾角分别是：3．9°／6．5°、86．9°／89．9°、12．6°／8°,统计学差异显著。术前参数在生理解剖正常值范围内,术后则明显偏离正常值。截骨长度同FTA呈负相关（r=-0．635,P=0．049）,即截骨长度越长,FTA越小（越接近生理值）。结论肿瘤型膝关节假体置换术后,膝关节相关线性参数发生改变,明显偏离生理正常值,具有统计学差异。原因包括术前截骨等指标测量误差、定制假体设计原理的缺陷、手术操作等因素,应进行相应改进。     

Type-B-IIIa hip rotationplasty: an alternative operation for the treatment of malignant tumors of the femur in early childhood

BACKGROUND: The biological plasticity of the cartilaginous proximal part of the tibia in children makes it possible to use the tibia to reconstruct the lower extremity after excision of a sarcoma of the thigh. A type-B-IIIa rotationplasty is an alternative to prosthetic replacement in very young children who have a malignant tumor of the femur that requires extensive resection. METHODS: A type-B-IIIa rotationplasty was done in eight patients who had a femoral tumor: four had a Ewing sarcoma; three, an osteosarcoma; and one, a primitive neuroectodermal tumor. The ages ranged from two years and eight months to ten years and six months at the time of the procedure. RESULTS: All eight patients were able to bear full weight and had a good range of motion of the hip joint at a median of five years and one month (range, two years and four months to eight years) postoperatively. They also were able to participate in sports activities. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging studies confirmed that the lateral part of the tibial plateau had remodeled to form a structure that resembled a developing femoral head. Seven patients were operated on only once, and a second hospital stay was not necessary. The remaining patient had a prolonged hospitalization for revision of the wound. CONCLUSIONS: As an alternative to amputation or an extendable tumor prosthesis, a type-B-IIIa rotationplasty offers not only a better functional result but also biological reconstruction. Placement of the cartilaginous head of the tibia into the acetabulum permits development of a new femoral head. Thus, not only is the foot preserved as a functional knee joint but a newly formed hip joint develops as well.     

Rotationplasty (Borggreve/Van Nes and modifications) as an alternative to amputation in failed reconstructions after resection of tumours around the knee joint

Failure of reconstructions as a result of infective or aseptic loosening and massive bone loss may make amputation necessary. If neurovascular structures can be preserved to keep a functional foot, rotationplasty may be considered an option. Four patients treated for malignant bone tumours (two osteosarcomas, one Ewing sarcoma, and one malignant fibrous histiocytoma) of the proximal tibia and distal femur (n=2 each) at the ages of 13 to 21 years had reconstructions that failed 3, 4, 5, and 15 years later. In three patients the cause was intractable infection, and in one loosening with shortening and deficiency of the extensor mechanism. The patients had the option to contact patients who had had rotationplasty as the primary procedure for tumours or severe femoral deficiencies. In two patients an AI-type rotationplasty was done, in one a type AII rotationplasty, and in the fourth a modification with shortening of the lower leg but retention of the knee joint. There were no postoperative complications such as persisting infections, fractures, or pseudarthrosis. All patients are active and are able to go alpine skiing or snowboarding. The main advantage of procedures in which a sensory-motor functional foot is retained is to avoid neuroma pain or phantom sensations. The foot allows for active knee movement of the orthoprosthesis and full weight bearing. It is of great psychological help for the patients to have contact during the decision-making with patients who have had similar procedures. It should be considered as an alternative to amputation.     

吻合血管腓骨髂骨联合移植修复膝关节周围骨巨细胞瘤切除术后的骨缺损

目的探讨吻合血管的腓骨、髂骨联合移植修复膝关节周围骨巨细胞瘤扩大切除的方法及疗效。方法1996年10月~2002年11月,收治膝关节周围骨巨细胞瘤25例,其中17例采用肿瘤扩大切除,吻合血管的腓骨、髂骨联合移植术,年龄18~44岁。Enneking分期均为A期;放射影像学Campanicci’s分级级11例,级5例,级1例;病理学Jaffe's分级级9例,级7例,级1例。骨缺损范围为5.0cm×4.0cm~8.0cm×5.5cm,采用胫骨近端肿瘤扩大切除吻合血管的腓骨、髂骨联合移植修复肿瘤切除后骨缺损9例,股骨远端肿瘤扩大切除吻合血管的腓骨、髂骨联合移植修复重建肿瘤切除后骨缺损8例。随访观察术后植骨愈合、肿瘤复发情况、膝关节功能以及死亡情况。结果术后17例移植髂骨4.0cm×4.0cm~5.0cm×5.0cm,移植腓骨长度14~20cm,伤口期愈合。均获随访26~87个月,平均54个月。所有移植骨术后均愈合,愈合时间75~120d,平均93d。术后复发2例,关节腔间隙轻度狭窄3例。所有患者膝关节屈伸功能良好,其中股骨远端重建后屈曲80~105°,平均96°;胫骨近端重建后屈曲90~120°,平均110°。根据Enneking下肢功能评价标准,优11例,良3例,可1例,差2例,优良率为82.4%。结论肿瘤扩大切除,应用吻合血管的腓骨、髂骨联合移植修复膝关节周围骨巨细胞瘤具有肿瘤切除相对彻底、复发率低、骨移植愈合时间短、功能恢复快,能尽量保持和重建膝关节结构和功能等优点。     

Rotationplasty type B IIIa according to Winkelmann: electromyography and gait analysis

After resection of a malignant bone tumor of the femur, rotationplasty is considered a treatment option in addition to other limb salvage procedures such as endoprosthetic replacement, allograft, or autograft reconstruction. A Type B IIIa rotationplasty is indicated when the tumor involves the total femur or when skip lesions are detected. After the total femur is resected, the lateral tibial plateau is placed into the acetabulum after rotating the tibia and foot segment 180 degrees. Eight patients at an average age of 5.9 years underwent a rotationplasty Type B IIIa at the authors' institution. After a median followup of 59.6 months (range, 24-86 months) the clinical results were excellent and the functional status according to the criteria of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society was good (23 of 30 points). In electromyographic analysis the muscle activity of the affected leg revealed good function of the stance and the swing phase muscles according to their new function with comparable amplitudes to the unaffected limb. The kinematics (range of motion of the hip and knee) were slightly assymmetric. Gait analysis showed a slight lateral trunk lean over the ipsilateral limb with reduced joint moment. All patients had full weightbearing ability. Remodeling of the tibial plateau into a round form mimicking a new femoral head is confirmed by radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging scans. In young children with a tumor of the total femur, rotationplasty Type B IIIa is a good treatment modality with excellent clinical and good functional results. The electromyographic and gait analysis data underscore a good functional restoration of gait after rotationplasty.     

Limb-salvage surgery in the treatment of osteosarcoma in skeletally immature individuals

Sacrifice of major growth plates during resection and fixed-length reconstruction of a limb in a skeletally immature child with osteosarcoma may result in a significant limb-length inequality as growth progresses. A limb-length discrepancy in the humerus may cause minor cosmetic problems but does not generally result in a significant functional deficit. In the lower extremity, tumors about the knee, including the distal femur and proximal tibia, usually present the dilemma of whether limb salvage by arthrodesis, osteoarticular allograft, or endoprosthetic replacement would result in a significant limb-length inequality and whether amputation of the extremity is a preferable procedure. The techniques of rotationplasty and an expandable endoprosthesis have been successfully used for treating skeletally immature patients with osteosarcoma of the distal femur. With regard to survival and function, the results obtained with these innovative methods are favorable compared with those of a high above-knee amputation.     

Rotationplasty (Borggreve/Van Nes and modifications) as an alternative to amputation in failed reconstructions after resection of tumours around the knee joint

Failure of reconstructions as a result of infective or aseptic loosening and massive bone loss may make amputation necessary. If neurovascular structures can be preserved to keep a functional foot, rotationplasty may be considered an option. Four patients treated for malignant bone tumours (two osteosarcomas, one Ewing sarcoma, and one malignant fibrous histiocytoma) of the proximal tibia and distal femur (n=2 each) at the ages of 13 to 21 years had reconstructions that failed 3, 4, 5, and 15 years later. In three patients the cause was intractable infection, and in one loosening with shortening and deficiency of the extensor mechanism. The patients had the option to contact patients who had had rotationplasty as the primary procedure for tumours or severe femoral deficiencies. In two patients an AI-type rotationplasty was done, in one a type AII rotationplasty, and in the fourth a modification with shortening of the lower leg but retention of the knee joint. There were no postoperative complications such as persisting infections, fractures, or pseudarthrosis. All patients are active and are able to go alpine skiing or snowboarding. The main advantage of procedures in which a sensory-motor functional foot is retained is to avoid neuroma pain or phantom sensations. The foot allows for active knee movement of the orthoprosthesis and full weight bearing. It is of great psychological help for the patients to have contact during the decision-making with patients who have had similar procedures. It should be considered as an alternative to amputation.     

Iliofemoral fusion for proximal femoral focal deficiency

Iliofemoral fusion, as performed for proximal femoral focal deficiency, is designed so that the knee, acting at the level of the triradiate cartilage, will act as the hip. This procedure was indicated in four of our patients to promote fitting of a prosthesis. The results after follow-up of more than five years are reported. Two of the patients also had a Van Nes rotationplasty and two had a Syme amputation. The Syme amputation produced better results. Distal epiphyseodesis of the ipsilateral femur also was performed in three of the four patients to minimize the anterior prominence of the knee. Two patients required a closing wedge osteotomy of the distal part of the femur to improve the alignment. All four patients walked well as functional above-the-knee amputees.     

The effect of ankle rotation on cutting of the tibia in total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: Extramedullary alignment guides are commonly used to prepare the tibia during total knee arthroplasty. One disadvantage is that the guide is easily affected by the position of the ankle joint. The tibia may have a rotational mismatch between its proximal and distal ends. We hypothesized that a rotational mismatch might cause incorrect positioning of an extramedullary alignment guide and evaluated such a mismatch on the predicted postoperative coronal alignment of the tibia. METHODS: Fifty-three osteoarthritic knees with varus deformity in fifty-one patients were evaluated with use of computerized tomography scans before total knee arthroplasty. We defined one anteroposterior axis of the ankle joint and five different anteroposterior axes of the proximal aspect of the tibia using three-dimensional bone models from the computerized tomography data. We measured the rotational angle between the anteroposterior axis of the ankle joint and the proximal part of the tibia. The distal end of the extramedullary guide was placed in front of the center of the ankle joint (on the line of the extended anteroposterior axis of the ankle joint), and the proximal end was placed on the line of the extended anteroposterior axis of the proximal part of the tibia. We established spatial coordinates to evaluate the effect of the rotational angle on the predicted postoperative coronal alignment of the tibia and calculated the presumed tibial coronal alignment. RESULTS: The rotational angle was positive (3.6 degrees to 19.7 degrees) for all of the anteroposterior axes of the proximal aspect of the tibia, indicating that the ankle joint was externally rotated relative to the proximal part of the tibia. The predicted tibial coronal alignment was varus (0.5 degrees to 5.1 degrees) for all of the anteroposterior axes of the proximal part of the tibia. CONCLUSIONS: When an extramedullary alignment guide is used to prepare the tibia in total knee arthroplasty, varus alignment of the tibial component can occur because of a rotational mismatch between the proximal part of the tibia and the ankle joint.     

Concomitant arterial and venous reconstruction with resection of lower extremity sarcomas

INTRODUCTION: Limb salvage can now be achieved in many cases of lower extremity sarcoma. Obtaining disease-free margins may require resection of adjacent vascular structures. We present our experience with a consecutive series of patients undergoing resection of lower extremity sarcomas en block with the artery and vein, focusing on the mid- and long-term outcomes of their vascular reconstruction. METHODS: Records were reviewed retrospectively for patient age, tumor location and type, procedure, and early and late outcomes. Between 1991 and 2004, 10 children (mean age 12 years, range 6-18 years) and 9 adults (mean age 48 years, range 24-73 years) underwent wide resection of lower extremity sarcomas to include the involved arterial and venous segments. All children had bone sarcomas, and because of their skeletal immaturity, they were treated with rotationplasty--a type of intercalary amputation that removes the distal thigh, knee, and proximal tibia while preserving the distal leg and foot. In rotationplasty, the distal residual limb is preserved, rotated 180 degrees, and attached to the thigh, positioning the ankle at the level of the former knee joint. In these cases, the residual vessels were reconstructed by primary anastomosis. All of the adults except one had soft tissue sarcomas; the resected vessels were reconstructed with contralateral saphenous vein. In all cases, the operative approach included shunting of artery and vein during tumor removal and orthopedic reconstruction. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 5.7 years. Three patients died of metastatic disease, and one died from a postoperative pulmonary embolism. No patient had local recurrence. Two patients ultimately required above-knee amputation: one child for tissue loss secondary to reperfusion injury, and one adult because of graft thrombosis secondary to progression of peripheral arterial disease. Two patients required early re-exploration for perioperative graft thrombosis. Both required replacement of saphenous vein conduits with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) prosthetic graft; one of the PTFE grafts became infected. CONCLUSIONS: Limb salvage can be achieved in the majority of patients who have lower extremity sarcomas even when en bloc resection includes the artery and vein. Intraoperative shunting can limit ischemia and is especially useful when immediate vascular repair is delayed by orthopedic reconstruction. The long-term patency rate of the reconstructed vessels is high. Saphenous vein is the preferred conduit when it is of adequate caliber.     

Vascular Management in Rotationplasty

The Van Nes rotationplasty is a useful limb-preserving procedure for skeletally immature patients with distal femoral or proximal tibial malignancy. The vascular supply to the lower limb either must be maintained and rotated or transected and reanastomosed. We asked whether there would be any difference in the ankle brachial index or complication rate for the two methods of vascular management. Vessels were resected with the tumor in seven patients and preserved and rotated in nine patients. One amputation occurred in the group in which the vessels were preserved. Four patients died secondary to metastatic disease diagnosed preoperatively. The most recent ankle brachial indices were 0.96 and 0.82 for the posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis arteries, respectively, in the reconstructed group. The ankle brachial indices were 0.98 and 0.96 for the posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis arteries, respectively, in the rotated group. Outcomes appear similar using both methods of vascular management and one should not hesitate to perform an en bloc resection when there is a question of vascular involvement.     

内侧腓肠肌肌(皮)瓣在小腿近端恶性肿瘤手术中的应用

目的探讨采用内侧腓肠肌肌(皮)瓣修复小腿近端恶性肿瘤切除后缺损的方法及临床疗效。方法自2015年10月至2019年1月,对6例小腿近端恶性肿瘤切除后的胫前软组织缺损患者分别采用内侧腓肠肌肌(皮)瓣转移修复、内侧腓肠肌肌瓣转移联合人工网状补片重建伸膝功能,并于术后3个月对切口的愈合情况、肢体功能以及肿瘤控制情况进行评价。结果本组共6例患者,术后获随访11~34个月,平均(13.3±3.2)个月。5例切口一期愈合(占83.3%);1例皮瓣边缘发生部分坏死,经换药后愈合。1例于术后12个月因肿瘤肺转移而死亡;1例于术后3个月时肿瘤局部复发接受了二次手术治疗;其余4例肿瘤无复发,效果较满意。患者术后3个月MSTS评分为17~29分,平均(26.2±4.8)分;评定下肢功能的优良率为83.3%(5/6)。结论采用内侧腓肠肌肌(皮)瓣转移修复小腿近端恶性肿瘤切除后的软组织缺损,以及联合人工网状补片行伸膝功能重建,其方法简单易行,可获得较满意的临床效果。