Background and objectives: Wide excision with a 2-3 cm safe margin is widely-accepted in treating high-grade osteosarcoma. However, a wider margin sacrifices more healthy bone and may jeopardize joint function. We hypothesize that our innovative hemicortical resection for such tumors leads to better joint function without higher recurrence rate.
Methods: Between August 2002 and April 2007, six patients of high-grade osteosarcoma were treated with hemicortical resection and biological reconstruction.
Results: Five tumors were located around the knee and one was located in the distal tibia. The mean tumor size was 20.5 cm(3). The bone defects were reconstructed using recycled autograft in four cases (one by extracorporeal irradiation; three by liquid nitrogen) and structural allograft in two. In an average follow-up of 52 months (24-96), all patients survived without local recurrence or metastasis. All bone grafts incorporated well without mechanical failure or infection. The average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 97.7%.
Conclusions: Hemicortical resection for high-grade osteosarcomas located eccentrically in the long bones may be a reliable technique leading to good joint function by preserving surrounding healthy tissues. The functional outcome was encouraging, although long-term follow-up is mandatory to validate. With the advancement of chemotherapy and radiographic three-dimensional imaging, the safe margin in wide excision of high-grade osteosarcoma may be narrowed down in light of joint surface preservation.
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