Factors affecting the incorporation of extracorporeally irradiated autograft for the treatment of bone tumours-a retrospective analysis from a tertiary referral centre

PurposeRe-implantation of the tumor bearing autograft following extracorporeal radiation therapy (ECRT) has been established as an oncologically safe biological reconstruction technique following resection of bone sarcomas. However, factors affecting the ECRT graft-host bone incorporation have not been fully investigated. An insight into the factors that influence graft incorporation can circumvent the complications and increase graft survival.MethodsA total of 96 osteotomies in 48 patients with intercalary resections of primary extremity bone sarcomas (mean age 15.8 years, mean follow-up 42.1 months) were analyzed retrospectively for factors ECRT autograft-host bone union.ResultsOn univariate analysis, age < 20 years, metaphyseal osteotomy site, V-shaped diaphyseal osteotomy, and use of additional plate at diaphyseal osteotomy had a significantly faster time to union, while gender, tumour type, bone involved, resection length, chemotherapy, type of fixation, and use of intra-medullary fibula did not influence union time. In multivariate analysis, V-shaped diaphyseal osteotomy and use of additional plate at diaphyseal ostetomy were the independent factors with favourable time to union. None of the analyzed factors was found to have a significant effect on the union rate. The major complications were non-union in 11.4% patients, graft failure in 2.1%, infection in 12.5%, and soft tissue local recurrences in 14.5% patients.ConclusionModified diaphyseal osteotomy and augmentation of the stability of the reconstruction using additional small plates enhance the incorporation of ECRT autograft.