Outcomes of Tumor Resection and Reconstruction by Megaprosthesis around Knee: Our Experience

Introduction: In this modern era, limb reconstructive surgeries have become a standardized procedure for malignant tumor of lower limbs. We performed limb salvage surgeries for tumor around the knee with en bloc resection and subsequent reconstruction with a megaprosthesis.

Methods: A total of six cases of malignant and locally aggressive tumor around the knee were operated on from 2017 to 2018, with resection and mega prosthetic reconstruction. Interpretation of functional outcome after surgery was performed with musculoskeletal tumor society (MSTS) score. Complications such as infection, local recurrence of tumor, implant failure, and distant metastases were evaluated during each follow-up.

Results: Postoperatively, one patient developed superficial infection; one local recurrence with metastasis and the rest cases were uneventful. Patients were regularly followed for atleast1 year, and none of them developed any sign of deep infection, implant failure,or loosening. At the beginning of treatment, the average MSTS score was 8.83, which showed a significant increment to 25.83 after 12 months of follow-up.

Conclusion: Albeit few cases were operated on, we draw this inference from our short-term experience that mega prosthesis acts as a boon to orthopedic surgeons in musculoskeletal tumor management, thereby uplifting the quality of life of patients even during terminal care.