GROWTH AFTER EXTENDIBLE ENDOPROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT OF THE DISTAL FEMUR

We report our results in 24 children with malignant primary bone tumou rs of the distal femur treated with a Stanmore extendible endoprosthes is (SEER), This consists of a femoral component that can be lengthened , a constrained knee and an uncemented sliding tibial component which crosses the proximal tibial physeal plate perpendicularly. The average age of tile patients at diagnosis was ten gears and the mean follow-u p was 4.7 years (2.5 to 7.9). The mean growth of the affected tibia wa s 76% (18 to 136) and of the fibula 83% (15 to 750) of the growth of t he unaffected limb. Measurement of growth arrest lines showed that the mean growth of the proximal tibial physis on the affected side was 69 % (43 to 100) of that of the normal side. The great variability in the growth of the physis cannot yet be explained.