Surgical management of neglected fractures of the patella

Between April 1996 and May 2002, 22 people (18 men, 4 women) were treated for neglected fractures of the patella at our hospital. The median patient age was 43 (range 22-55) years. The majority of the fractures were caused by a direct fall on the knee. In all they comprised 18 transverse, 2 comminuted and 2 lower pole fractures, most of which had been treated by traditional methods initially. The median time between injury and surgery was 3 (range 2-6.5) months. Treatment methods in the orthopaedic department included tension band wiring in 16 cases, tension band wiring with cerclage in 3 cases and patellectomy in 3 cases. Results were evaluated after a median follow-up period of 5.5 (range 2-9) years and were based on Bostman criteria. Excellent results were achieved in 5 and good results in 15 cases. The poor results in two cases were due to infection and implant failure. Surgical treatment of neglected fractures of patella can thus lead to favourable outcomes.

Custom mega-prosthetic replacement for proximal humeral tumours

We used custom mega-prostheses in 57 patients with aggressive benign and malignant tumours of the proximal humerus. The most common tumour was osteosarcoma, followed by giant cell tumour and chondrosarcoma. We achieved extra-articular and wide resection margins in all primary malignant tumours and narrow margins in benign and metastatic tumours. Six patients died of disease, 4 patients developed local recurrences and 43 were continuously disease free at an average follow-up of 5.5 years (range 2-14.5 years). Five patients required revision replacements. The most common complications were proximal subluxation and aseptic loosening. Functional outcome was satisfactory in 78% of cases.

Distal femoral tumours treated by resection and custom mega-prosthetic replacement

We have analysed the results of 246 cases of distal femoral tumours treated by resection and prosthetic replacement between 1988 and 2002. Patient ages ranged from 6-67 years averaging 24 years; 133 were males. The most common tumour was osteosarcoma (67% of patients). The follow-up ranged from 2 to 14 years. Stage II tumours were seen in 72% of patients. The technique of sleeve resection of the quadriceps musculature was followed to achieve local clearance of the tumour. The prosthesis used was a rotating hinge custom mega-prosthesis manufactured locally. The functional result achieved was excellent or good in 87%; 86% of the patients had no evidence of disease, and 13% had died. The 10-year patient survival was 76.9%. Periprosthetic fracture and infection were the most common complications.

Paget's sarcoma: limb salvage by custom mega prosthesis: four case reports

Of 4 Paget's sarcoma patients (age range, 55-68 years) underwent limb salvage surgery by custom mega prosthesis, 3 had lesions in the upper extremity and one in the proximal femur. Three of the patients were at stage IIB of the disease, according to Enneking's system of staging musculoskeletal tumours. All 4 patients underwent wide resection with a mean length of 152.5 mm. The defects were reconstructed with custom-made prostheses: proximal humeral prostheses in 2 of the patients, total elbow prosthesis in one, and total hip prosthesis in one. During a mean postoperative follow-up period of 40 months, one died of disseminated disease 14 months after surgery; one remained disease-free; 2 had local recurrence and required amputation, of whom one died of disseminated disease one year after amputation, the other had no further evidence of the disease. We report the functional outcomes of the 2 patients who were alive at the latest follow-up. The 2-year patient survival rate was 50%.

Limb salvage in aggressive and malignant tumours of the fibula

We treated 25 patients with aggressive and malignant fibular tumours between April 1989 and May 2001. There were 11 osteosarcomas, seven Ewing's sarcoma and five chondrosarcomas. The tumours predominantly involved the upper one third; 16 were of Stage IIB. Neo-adjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy were given to all patients with osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. In 20 patients, surgical margins were wide and in three radical. Mean follow-up was 71 (26-168) months. Local recurrences were met with in three patients requiring amputation. Three patients died of disease and one was lost to follow-up. Functional outcome was excellent in 12 patients and good in seven. The 5- and 10-year survival rates of patient and limb are reported based on Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Custom megaprosthetic replacement for proximal tibial tumours

We analysed 133 patients treated with resection and endoprosthetic proximal tibial replacement from 1988 to 2000. Mean age was 22.3 years and osteosarcoma was the most common tumour. Average follow-up was 59.4 months. An excellent functional result was achieved in 63 patients and a good result in 36. The number of patients who had no evidence of disease was 102. Twenty-four patients died due to disease. Infection was the most common complication, followed by periprosthetic fracture and aseptic loosening. The 5-year limb survival rate was 85.5%.

Using a custom mega prosthesis to treat hydatidosis of bone: a report of 3 cases

Three cases of hydatidosis of bone with pathological fracture were treated by wide resection, custom mega prosthesis replacement, and chemotherapy. Two patients were females and one was male, with a mean age of 47 years (range, 38-55 years). Two of them had a pathological fracture of the proximal femur, and one had a pathological fracture of the distal femur. All patients were treated postoperatively with albendazole 400 mg, twice daily, for 12 weeks. During the mean follow-up period of 4.5 years, no recurrence of Echinococcal infection was noticed. The use of the custom mega prosthesis technique has not been reported elsewhere, and hydatid disease of the bone can now be considered an extended indication for custom mega prosthesis in addition to its application in surgery for tumours and massive trauma.

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of nimesulide with betacyclodextrin vs nimesulide tablets in osteoarthritis

Efficacy and safety of nimesulide as well as favourable tolerability have been tested in osteoarthritis in short term study and post-marketing survey. Here is a report which shows the superiority of nimesulide complexed with betacyclodextrin vs ninesulide tablet in osteoarthritis in a long term study.