Objective: To study allograft-prosthesis combination in limb salvage and the rational of composite prosthesis.
Methods: Of 16 patients with bone tumors age from 19 to 60 years, 6 women 12 men, osteosarcoma was found in 4 patients, chondrosarcoma in 2, malignant giant cell tumor in 3, fibrosarcoma in 3, and other malignant bone tumor in 4. Allograft-prosthesis combination in included allograft proximal femurs with total hip arthroplasty (3 patients), allografts bipolar femoral head replacement (8), allografts with total knee arthroplasty prosthetic replacements (7). All patients received adjuvant therapy for tumor control.
Results: The length of follow-up ranged from 18 months to 5 years during which time 1 patients died, 3 survived as tumor-carriers, and 12 were disease free. All patients obtained better functional result in their extremities and had good quality of life.
Conclusions: Both prosthetic replacement and allograft advantages, the use of large bone allografts with metallic prosthesis for the treatment of bone tumors near or involving joints can be applied with good results in selected patients having limb salvage surgery.