Follow-up of biological reconstruction of epiphysis preserving osteosarcoma around the knee in children: A retrospective cohort study

Limb salvage treatment for malignant bone tumors in children includes prosthetic and biological reconstruction. Early function following prosthesis reconstruction is satisfactory; however, there are several complications. Biological reconstruction is another way to treat bone defects. We evaluated the effectiveness of reconstruction of bone defects by liquid nitrogen inactivation of autologous bone with preserving epiphysis in 5 cases of periarticular osteosarcoma of the knee. We retrospectively selected 5 patients with articular osteosarcoma of the knee who underwent epiphyseal-preserving biological reconstruction in our department between January 2019 and January 2020. Femur involvement occurred in 2 cases and tibia involvement occurred in 3 cases, with an average defect of 18 cm (12–30 cm). The 2 patients with femur involvement were treated with inactivated autologous bone by liquid nitrogen with vascularized fibula transplantation. Among the patients with tibia involvement, 2 were treated with inactivated autologous bone with ipsilateral vascularized fibula transplantation and 1 was treated with autologous inactivated bone with contralateral vascularized fibula transplantation. Bone healing was evaluated by regular X-ray examination. At the end of the follow-up, lower limb length, knee flexion, and extension function were evaluated. Patients were followed up for 24 to 36 months. Average bone-healing time was 5.2 months (3–8 months). All patients achieved bone healing with no tumor recurrence and no distant metastasis and all patients survived. The lengths of both lower limbs were equal in 2 cases, with shortening by ≤1 cm in 1 case and shortening by 2 cm in 1 case. Knee flexion was >90° in 4 cases and between 50 and 60° in 1 case. The Muscle and Skeletal Tumor Society score was 24.2 (range 20–26). Inactivation of autogenous bone with the epiphysis preserved by liquid nitrogen combined with vascularized fibula reconstruction for periarticular osteosarcoma of the knee in children is safe and effective. This technique supports bone healing. Postoperative limb length and function, and short-term effects were satisfactory.