THE OUTCOME AND FUNCTIONAL RESULTS OF DIAPHYSEAL ENDOPROSTHESES AFTERTUMOR-EXCISION

improvement in the hfe expectancy of patients with primary bone tumour s has led to increased emphasis on limb salvage and preservation of fu nction, Between 1979 and 1994 we used custom-made endoprostheses in 18 patients to reconstruct diaphyseal defects after excision of primary bone tumours. The mean age at operation was 26 gears (9 to 64) and the median follow-up 65 months (6 to 188), Fifteen patients have survived and are free from local or metastatic disease, Local recurrence devel oped in one patient, Using the modified Enneking functional scoring sy stem, 77% of the patients achieved 8040 or more of their premorbid fun ctional capability, Mechanical loosening, limb shortening and secondar y osteoarthritis were the main complications, There were no infections . We conclude that diaphyseal endoprostheses offer a good clinical and functional outcome in the lower limb.