Does Microwave Ablation of the Tumor Edge Allow for Joint-sparing Surgery in Patients With Osteosarcoma of the Proximal Tibia?

Background

Joint-sparing surgery of a patient’s native joint for osteosarcoma likely affords better function and comparable survival. However, it sometimes is challenging to resect a juxtaarticular osteosarcoma in a way that preserves the affected epiphysis because wide margins are necessary to minimize the risk of local recurrence. If there was a method to resect a tumor close to the joint and treat a potentially positive margin to prevent recurrence, it might allow salvage of a joint that otherwise might be lost.

Questions/purposes

We therefore asked (1) whether joint-preserving tumor resection could be performed for juxtaarticular osteosarcoma after microwave ablation of the tumor edge under navigation without leading to local recurrences, (2) what is the resulting function, and (3) what are the complications associated with this procedure.

Methods

Between 2009 and 2011, we treated 11 patients who had juxtaarticular osteosarcoma of the proximal tibia (mean age, 12 years; range, 9–16 years) with joint-preserving surgery by transepiphysis tumor resection after navigation-assisted microwave ablation of the tumor edge; they were followed a minimum of 37 months (mean, 48 months; range 37–62 months), and none was lost to followup. Patients were considered eligible for this procedure if they had a distance from the tumor edge to the articular surface between 10 to 15 mm, good chemotherapy responses, no pathologic fracture and no tumor involvement of major neurovascular structures. Allograft in combination with a vascularized fibula flap was used for segmental reconstruction. We recorded local tumor control, complications, and functional outcomes using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score, which ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better function.

Results

There were no local recurrences. Major complications included osteonecrosis of part of the epiphysis in two patients and deep infection in one. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score ranged from 26 to 30 with a mean of 29.

Conclusions

In selected patients with osteosarcoma invading the epiphysis, navigated resection facilitates performing joint-sparing surgery, and in our small series, the adjuvant microwave ablation seemed to provide adequate local tumor control. Although more experience and longer followup are needed, this approach may make it possible to salvage more native joints when performing limb salvage for osteosarcoma.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, therapeutic study.     

某三甲医院73名护士离职原因及再就业情况调查分析

目的分析某三甲医院73名护士离职原因及再就业情况,探讨提高护士工作满意度,减少护士离职的对策。方法对73名护士采取电话访谈方式了解离职原因及再就业情况。结果护士离职的主要原因依次为护理工作紧张压力大(87.67%)、工作环境不满意(50.69%),科室人际关系紧张(41.10%)及考取外单位在编编制(38.36%)等6项原因。再就业包括继续从事护理专业(56.16%)、非护理专业(10.96%)、暂时休息(20.55%)等。结论应合理配置护士人力资源,缓解工作压力,实施更为人性化的管理,做好护士职业生涯规划等,以提高护士工作满意度,降低离职率。