FIRST CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE WITH A NONINVASIVELY EXTENDIBLE ENDOPROSTHESIS - A LIMB-SAVING PROCEDURE IN CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM A MALIGNANT BONE-TUMOR

A modular endoprosthetic system that can be extended noninvasively has been applied for the first time in a,stowing child who underwent a tu mor resection in his leg. The main goal of the study was to test the e xtendable mechanism that noninvasively corrects leg length differences caused by growth disturbances of the affected leg. The use of this en doprosthetic system resulted in good restoration of function. Six exte nsions were performed resulting in 19.5 mm of prosthetic growth. Unfor tunately, an ingrown toenail caused infection of the endoprosthesis, a nd the infection necessitated extirpation of the prosthesis 15 months postoperatively. Two months later the patient died of acute leukemia. Analysis of the endoprosthesis revealed some manufacturing shortcoming s, none of which impaired the function of the endoprosthesis.