Surgical Innovation in Sarcoma Surgery

Graft Infections in Biologic Reconstructions in the Oncologic Setting: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Background: Biologic graft infection (BGI) is one of the main complications in graft reconstructions. However, very little evidence exists regarding the epidemiology of BGI, as most of the data come from sparse reports. Moreover, most of the series did not detail the treatment and outcome of graft infections. The aim of this systematic review of the literature is to provide a comprehensive data collection on BGI after oncologic resections. Methods: Three different databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched for relevant articles, and further references were obtained by cross-referencing. Results: 139 studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 9824 grafts were retrieved. Among these, 684 (6.9%) were in the humerus, 365 (3.7%) in the pelvis, 2041 (20.7%) in the femur and 1660 (16.8%) in the tibia. Most grafts were osteoarticular (2481, 26.7%) and intercalary 2112 (22.7%) allografts. In 461 (5.0%), vascularized fibula grafts (VFGs) were used in combination with recycled autografts. Recycled grafts were reported in 1573 (16.9%) of the cases, and allograft-prosthetic composites in 1673 (18.0%). The pelvis and the tibia had the highest incidence of BGI (20.4% and 11.0%, respectively). The most reported first treatment was debridement and implant retention (DAIR) in 187 (42.8%) cases and two-stage revision with graft removal in 152 (34.8%). Very little data are reported on the final outcome specified by site or type of graft. Conclusions: This systematic review of the literature confirms a high incidence of infections in biologic reconstructions after resections of primary bone tumors. Despite DAIR being a viable attempt, in most cases, a two-stage approach with graft removal and reconstruction with endoprosthesis presented the highest chance to overcome infection, guaranteeing a reconstruction. We emphasize the need for future multicentric studies to focus on the management of infections after biological reconstructions in bone sarcomas.

Fluorescence guidance improves the accuracy of radiological imaging-guided surgical navigation

BACKGROUND

Imaging-based navigation technologies require static referencing between the target anatomy and the optical sensors. Imaging-based navigation is therefore well suited to operations involving bony anatomy; however, these technologies have not translated to soft-tissue surgery. We sought to determine if fluorescence imaging complement conventional, radiological imaging-based navigation to guide the dissection of soft-tissue phantom tumors.

METHODS

Using a human tissue-simulating model, we created tumor phantoms with physiologically accurate optical density and contrast concentrations. Phantoms were dissected using all possible combinations of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance, and fluorescence imaging; controls were included. The data were margin accuracy, margin status, tumor spatial alignment, and dissection duration.

RESULTS

Margin accuracy was higher for combined navigation modalities compared to individual navigation modalities, and accuracy was highest with combined CT and fluorescence navigation (p = 0.045). Margin status improved with combined CT and fluorescence imaging.

CONCLUSIONS

At present, imaging-based navigation has limited application in guiding soft-tissue tumor operations due to its inability to compensate for positional changes during surgery. This study indicates that fluorescence guidance enhances the accuracy of imaging-based navigation and may be best viewed as a synergistic technology, rather than a competing one.

Effect of negative pressure wound therapy after surgical removal of deep-seated high-malignant soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities and trunk wall-study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of rare malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin in the musculoskeletal system. The main treatment is surgery often supplemented with pre-or postoperative radiotherapy.

A retrospective study by Bedi et al. indicated that negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) reduced the risk of postoperative wound complications in patients treated with preoperative radiation followed by surgical tumor removal of lower extremity soft tissue sarcomas (STS), and the use of NPWT was not associated with an increased risk of local recurrence. Previous studies have shown that NPWT can reduce postoperative complications. STS surgeries are a high-risk procedure concerning wound complications.

Methods

Non-blinded single-center randomized controlled trial comparing NPWT versus conventional wound dressing and postoperative wound complications after surgical removal of deep-seated high-malignant STS of the extremities or trunk wall

Sample-size calculation: 154 STS patients (80% risk of avoiding type II error, 5% risk of type I error, and an 80% wound complication risk)

Block randomization of 8 into:

Group A: Conventional wound dressing

Group B: NPWT (PREVENA PLUS™ Incision Management System)

Inclusion criteria: Surgery for a deep-seated STS of an extremity or the trunk wall

Exclusion criteria: Age < 18 years, plastic surgery, low malignant/borderline STS, chemotherapy, preoperative radiotherapy, allergic/hypersensitive to acrylic adhesives or silver, unwilling/unable to provide informed consent, metastatic disease, and ischemic surgeries

Primary study endpoints were set as major wound complications defined by O’Sullivan et al. as a secondary surgery under anesthesia for wound repairs and wound management without secondary surgery within 4 months postoperatively.

Secondary study endpoints among others are Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score (MSTS), Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), and European Quality of Life - 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D).

Approval from the Scientific Ethical Committee and the Data Protection Agency has been obtained, and the study is registered at clinicaltrial.gov.

This study did not apply for external funding.

Discussion

Many new medical devices and technical solutions are currently being introduced, and even though some documentation regarding the use of NPWT, e.g., in joint replacement surgery exist, it is also important to seek documentation for this treatment principle in STS surgery.

Trial registration

Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04960332 and approved on 11 July 2021

Surgical Advances in Osteosarcoma

Simple Summary

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common bone cancer in children. OS most commonly arises in the legs, but can arise in any bone, including the spine, head or neck. Along with chemotherapy, surgery is a mainstay of OS treatment and in the 1990s, surgeons began to shift from amputation to limb-preserving surgery. Since then, improvements in imaging, surgical techniques and implant design have led to improvements in functional outcomes without compromising on the cancer outcomes for these patients. This paper summarises these advances, along with a brief discussion of future technologies currently in development.

Abstract

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone cancer in children and, unfortunately, is associated with poor survival rates. OS most commonly arises around the knee joint, and was traditionally treated with amputation until surgeons began to favour limb-preserving surgery in the 1990s. Whilst improving functional outcomes, this was not without problems, such as implant failure and limb length discrepancies. OS can also arise in areas such as the pelvis, spine, head, and neck, which creates additional technical difficulty given the anatomical complexity of the areas. We reviewed the literature and summarised the recent advances in OS surgery. Improvements have been made in many areas; developments in pre-operative imaging technology have allowed improved planning, whilst the ongoing development of intraoperative imaging techniques, such as fluorescent dyes, offer the possibility of improved surgical margins. Technological developments, such as computer navigation, patient specific instruments, and improved implant design similarly provide the opportunity to improve patient outcomes. Going forward, there are a number of promising avenues currently being pursued, such as targeted fluorescent dyes, robotics, and augmented reality, which bring the prospect of improving these outcomes further.

Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) in orthopedic oncology. Which were the indications, problems and results in our first consecutive 203 patients?

AIMS

to review a group of patients with primary bone tumors treated with intraoperative navigation and analyze: (1) The technical problems; (2) Indications for Computer Assisted Surgery (CAS); (3) Oncological results; (4) Non oncological complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients from a single institution who had preoperative virtual planned for an oncological primary bone resection assisted with navigation between May 2010 and July 2017 were enrolled in the study (203 patients). The use of computer-assisted surgery (CAS) was classified according to the oncologic procedure performed: (1) intralesional resections, (2) en-block resections, and (3) en-block resections + navigated allograft reconstructions.

RESULTS

Four patients (4/203, 2%) of the series presented technical problems which came from 2 software and 2 hardware crashes. Eight (4%) procedures were intralesional resections and no local recurrences or complications were reported in this group. Ninety-eight surgeries (49%) were pure en block resection. The pelvis and sacrum were the main location in this group (57%). All bone margins were defined negative but 2 patients presented a positive resection in the soft tissues. Infection was the most prevalent complication (16/23). Ninety-three procedures were done for en block resections + allograft reconstruction (all extremities tumor). All margins were free of tumor and non oncological rate for this group was 28%.

CONCLUSION

The main indications for CAS were malignant bone tumors resection. The technical failures precluded navigation use in 2%. CAS for pure en-block resections were mainly indicated in pelvic and sacrum tumors while en-block resection + allograft reconstruction assisted with navigation were only indicated in extremities tumors.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Current review of surgical management options for extremity bone sarcomas

Modern surgical management of extremity bone sarcomas is governed by limb-sparing surgery combined with adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

All the resection and reconstruction techniques have to achieve oncologic excision margins, with survival rates and functional results superior to amputation.

The main reconstruction techniques of bone defects resulted after resection are: modular endoprosthetic reconstruction; bone graft reconstruction; bone transport; resection arthrodesis; and rotationplasty.

Oncologic resection and modular endoprosthetic reconstruction are the generally approved surgical options adopted for the majority of cases in major specialized bone sarcoma centres.

Good basic principles, efficient multidisciplinary approach and sustained research in the field can provide a better future for the challenge posed by extremity bone sarcoma treatment.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2019;4:174-182. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.4.180048

Systemic Treatment of Metastatic/Recurrent Uterine Leiomyosarcoma: A Changing Paradigm

The treatment of metastatic and recurrent uterine leoimyosarcoma (uLMS) has evolved rapidly in the past several years. Leoimyosarcoma is extremely aggressive and responds poorly to traditional chemotherapeutics. Recent regulatory approval of novel treatment options has significantly expanded the therapeutic armamentarium, and the addition of these therapies has challenged clinicians to select and optimally sequence these new compounds. Additionally, the potential role of immunotherapy is being assessed in current uLMS clinical trials. Given the increasing number of agents available both in the U.S. and globally, a treatment template that addresses optimal sequencing based upon expert consensus would be useful. Current guidelines, although listing various options, lack granularity by line of therapy. Most patients with leiomyosarcoma, even in early stage, are treated with surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy despite uLMS being relatively chemoresistant. Adjuvant chemotherapy often includes the combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel with or without doxorubicin in first-line systemic therapy, but these cytotoxic agents only provide patients with advanced disease a 5-year survival <30%. This review will focus on examination of current guidelines and consensus building for optimal sequencing of systemic therapies for advanced or recurrent uLMS. Critical ongoing studies investigating novel approaches including immunotherapeutics and genetic alterations also will be discussed. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Recent regulatory approval of novel treatment options has significantly expanded the therapeutic armamentarium, and the addition of these therapies has challenged clinicians to select and optimally sequence these compounds. This review will focus on examination of current guidelines and consensus building for optimal sequencing of systemic therapies for advanced or recurrent uterine leoimyosarcoma.

Borderline Sarcomas and Smooth Muscle Tumours of Uncertain Malignant Potential

Borderline sarcomas and smooth muscle tumours of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) have an unpredictable clinical behaviour with frequent local recurrences and rarely, metastases. We review the current management of common subtypes of borderline sarcomas and STUMP.