Persistent wound drainage after tumor resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction of the proximal femur

PURPOSE: To examine the prevalence of prolonged wound drainage (PWD) after tumor resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction of the hip. METHODS: Retrospective review of 86 consecutive patients with metastatic bone disease, malignant hematologic bone disease or bone sarcoma, treated with tumor resection and subsequent endoprosthetic reconstruction of the proximal femur, between 2010 and 2012, in a single center. RESULTS: PWD for 7 days or more was observed in 41 cases (48%). The wounds only ceased oozing after a mean of 8.4 days, leading to prolonged administration of prophylactic antibiotics (mean 8.7 days) and length of hospital stay (mean 10.2 days). Total femur replacement, bone sarcoma and additional pelvic reconstruction were identified as significant independent risk factors for an even longer duration of PWD. CONCLUSION: Compared to conventional hip arthroplasty, PWD appears to be significantly more prevalent in patients undergoing tumor arthroplasty procedures of the hip. Given the potentially increased risk for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), increased awareness, identification and implementation of adequate strategies for prevention and treatment of this avoidable complication are warranted

Patient and implant survival following joint replacement because of metastatic bone disease:A cross-sectional study of 130 patients with 140 joint replacements

BACKGROUND: Patients suffering from a pathological fracture or painful bony lesion because of metastatic bone disease often benefit from a total joint replacement. However, these are large operations in patients who are often weak. We examined the patient survival and complication rates after total joint replacement as the treatment for bone metastasis or hematological diseases of the extremities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 130 patients (mean age 64 (30–85) years, 76 females) received 140 joint replacements due to skeletal metastases (n = 114) or hematological disease (n = 16) during the period 2003–2008. 21 replaced joints were located in the upper extremities and 119 in the lower extremities. Clinical and survival data were extracted from patient files and various registers. RESULTS: The probability of patient survival was 51% (95% CI: 42–59) after 6 months, 39% (CI: 31–48) after 12 months, and 29% (CI: 21–37) after 24 months. The following surgical complications were seen (8 of which led to additional surgery): 2–5 hip dislocations (n = 8), deep infection (n = 3), peroneal palsy (n = 2), a shoulder prosthesis penetrating the skin (n = 1), and disassembly of an elbow prosthesis (n = 1). The probability of avoiding all kinds of surgery related to the implanted prosthesis was 94% (CI: 89–99) after 1 year and 92% (CI: 85–98) after 2 years. CONCLUSION: Joint replacement operations because of metastatic bone disease do not appear to have given a poorer rate of patient survival than other types of surgical treatment, and the reoperation rate was low