Limb function and quality of life after various reconstruction methods according to tumor location following resection of osteosarcoma in distal femur

BACKGROUND: We tried to compare the functional and psychosocial outcomes after various reconstruction methods according to tumor location following resection of osteosarcoma in distal femur. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 51 patients who underwent limb-salvage surgery of osteosarcoma in distal femur in our institution, 30 males and 21 females with an average age of 21 years (range 13–51 years). We classified osteosarcoma in distal femur into 3 types, and organized affected limb reconstruction methods after wide resection. MSTS and QOL scores were used to analyze the functional and psychological outcomes. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 43 months (12–225 months), there is no difference on functional results and QOL scores among three reconstruction groups (p > 0.05) and among three types groups (p > 0.05). No difference could be noticed on tumor-free survival and total survival among three reconstruction groups (p > 0.05) and three type groups (p > 0.05). In ≤2-year, better functional scores could be found in prosthesis group, rather than the other two inactivated-bone groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Biological reconstruction with alcohol-inactivated autograft replantation could avoid prosthesis related complications and achieved comparable results with prosthesis following resection of osteosarcoma in distal femur. Different reconstruction options could be chosen according to tumor location, such as the distance to Insall line. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-453) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.