HYDROXYAPATITE-COATED DISTAL FEMORAL REPLACEMENTS - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

A custom-designed, hydroxyapatite-coated distal femoral replacement wa s developed and implanted in five individuals at the authors' hospital . The indications for this type of prosthesis were a multiply failed c emented endoprosthesis in two individuals; a revision of an infected, previously cemented endoprosthesis in another; a primary low-grade sar coma in a fourth, and a stage III giant cell tumor in the final indivi dual, Mean follow-up time was 3.3 years (range, 2.9-3.5 years). The fu nctional results, based on the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) cr iteria, were excellent in one patient (20%) and good in four patients (80%). Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional scores ranged from 25 to 35 (mean, 29.8). No patient had thigh pain. All the femoral compone nts appeared well fixed on radiographic evaluation. These preliminary results indicate that a hydroxyapatite-coated distal femoral replaceme nt may represent a viable alternative to a cemented endoprosthesis for aggressive benign lesions and low-grade sarcomas requiring resection. In addition, it appears to be a viable solution for failed cemented e ndoprostheses in individuals who have survived their disease.