CONSOLIDATION OF MASSIVE BONE ALLOGRAFTS IN LIMB-PRESERVING OPERATIONS FOR BONE-TUMORS

This study analysed the influence of several factors affecting the con solidation time of 83 massive bone allografts in 79 patients with mali gnant bone tumours: osteosarcoma 57; Ewing's sarcoma 8; malignant fibr ous histiocytoma 3; chondrosarcoma 4; fibrosarcoma 5; and giant cell t umours 2. The mean age of the patients was 19 years and the mean lengt h of the allografts was 18 cm. The minimum follow up was for 12 months . The mean consolidation time for metaphyseal and diaphyseal osteotomi es was 6.5 and 16 months respectively. Fifteen diaphyseal osteotomies required autologous cancellous grafting. There were 8 allograft fractu res after consolidation. The following factors which might influence c onsolidation were analysed: age of the host and donor; allograft lengt h and site, type of osteotomy and osteosynthesis; intra-arterial and s ystemic chemotherapy; intraoperative and external radiotherapy. In dia physeal osteotomies there were statistically significant differences i n consolidation time with the use of systemic chemotherapy, external r adiotherapy and the recipient's age.