High complication rate of reconstruction using Ilizarov bone transport method in patients with bone sarcomas

We performed five reconstructions by bone transport in patients with bone s arcoma: three osteosarcomas, one Ewing's sarcoma and one chondrosarcoma. Fo ur sacromas were in the distal femur and one in the shaft of the tibia. Fou r patients received multidrug chemotherapy. The average length of the skele tal defect after tumour resection was 17 (range 10-25) cm. All patients und erwent double elongation from both proximal and distal sites: of the bone d efect. The average follow-up period was 48 (range 40-66) months, and the av erage duration of external fixation was 32 months (range 579-1340 days). In one case, bone formation was satisfactory, but in the other cases, it was poor and slow. The average treatment index was 95 (range 53-191) days per 1 cm of elongation. In one case, the bone fragment disappeared during the bo ne transport. In one case, the end of the bone protruded from the skin, and osteomyelitis set in. This patient underwent above-knee amputation due to failure of infection control. Three patients suffered talipes equinus. One patient died of pulmonary metastasis. Two patients had fair and three had p oor function. This method is not recommended for patients with bone sarcoma who may have a poor prognosis, as it has an unacceptably high complication rate.