Objective To analyze the effectiveness of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). Methods Between October 2003 and December 2007, 36 patients with FBSS were treated with TLIF. There were 19 males and 17 females with an average age of 52.6 years (range, 46-68 years) and an average disease duration of 1.6 years (range, 3 months-15 years). Of 36 patients, reoperation was performed in 25, 10 received 3 operations,and 1 had 5 operations. A total of 50 segments were involved in fusion, including L4, 5 in 12 cases, L5, S1 in 10 cases, L3, 4 and L4, 5 double segments in 8 cases, and L4, 5 and L5, S1 double segments in 6 cases. According to X-ray films, CT, and MRI examination, 12 patients were diagnosed as having lumbar instabil ity secondary to total laminectomy, 18 as having recurrence of lumbar disc protrusion, and 6 as having recurrence of lumbar spondylol isthesis. Results Dural rupture occurred in 1 case and was repaired by suturing without cerebrospinal fluid leakage was observed; 1 had deep incision infection of Staphylococcus; and 1 had transient single irritation sign because of hematoma formation and was cured after symptomatic treatment. The other incisions healed by first intention. No patients had permanent nerve injury or deterioration. Thirty-three cases were followed up 18-72 months (mean, 35.2 months). At 12 months, all the operated segments reached interbody fusion, and no breakage of screw or Cage dislocation occurred. Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores showed significant difference (t=2.45, P=0.01) between before operation (14.2 ± 4.1) and 18 months after operation (23.9 ± 2.6). The rate of cl inical improvement was 90.9% (23 cases of excellent, 7 cases of good, 3 cases of acceptable). Conclusion The TLIF simpl ifies the manipulation of lumbar revision surgery and decreases the operation risk and the operative compl ications for the treatment of FBSS.
Objective To evaluate the surgical skill, cause of revision, compl ications, prosthetic survival and postoperative function in revision of custom-made tumor prosthesis replacement of knee joint. Methods The cl inical data of 33 patients who received prosthetic revision surgery between June 2002 and June 2007 were reviewed. There were 17 malesand 16 females with an average age of 33.1 years (range, 16-67 years). The pathological diagnosis included 17 osteosarcomas, 11 giant cell tumors, 2 mal ignant fibrous histocytomas, 1 chondrosarcoma, 1 synovial sarcoma, and 1 l iposarcoma. The involved locations were distal femur in 22 cases and proximal tibia in 11 cases. The average interval between first prosthetic replacement and revision surgery was 45.3 months (range, 6-180 months). The reason for revision included local recurrence in 2 cases, deep infection in 8 cases, aseptic loosening in 7 cases, peri prosthetic fracture in 1 case, prosthetic stem fracture in 6 cases, and prosthetic hinge failure in 9 cases. Six patients with deep infection received two-stage revision surgery, while the other 27 patients received one-stage revision. Cemented prostheses were used in all patients. Allograft prosthetic composite and revisions were used in 2 patients who had deficit of diaphysis for stem fixation. Results In 17 patients who received both primary prosthetic replacement and revision, the operative time was (149.8 ± 40.5) minutes and (189.9 ± 43.8) minutes, and the blood loss was (605.2 ± 308.0) mL and (834.1 ± 429.9) mL for primary prosthetic replacement and revision, respectively; all showing statistically significant differences (P lt; 0.05). The mean time of follow-up was 45.1 months (range, 12-76 months). Heal ing between allograft and host bone was obtained in 2 patients with allograft prosthetic composite and revision after 1.5 years and 2 years, respectively. After revision surgery, 3 patients died of lung metastasis after 12-24 months, and other 3 patients havinglung metastasis were al ive with disease. Nine (30%) compl ications occurred in 30 patients who were al ive at last follow-up. The compl ications included wound infection in 2 patients, deep infection in 5 patients, mechanical problems in 2 patients. Prosthetic failure occurred in 7 patients (23.3%). The 5-year survival rate of revised prosthesis was 68.6%. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score at 6 months after revision (73.6% ± 14.4%) was significantly improved (P lt; 0.01) when compared with before revision (57.1% ± 10.6%). Conclusion The main reasons for revision of custom-made tumor prosthesis of knee joint were mechanical problems and deep infection. Although revision surgery of knee is relatively compl icated and has some compl ications, a functional l imb could be maintained in most tumor patients.
Objective To study the effect of all-coated long stem prosthesis associated with allograft in revision total hip replacement (THR). Methods From January 1997 to January 2004, 20 patients with non-infectious loosened implant after primary THR were treated. There were 12 males and 8 females with a mean age of 65 years (58-77 years). The average period between primary THR and revision THR was 12 years (3-18 years). According to classification of Paprosky, there were10 cases of type II, 6 cases of type IIIA, 3 cases of type IIIB and 1 case of type IV. All-coated long stem prosthesis was used in all cases. Impacting bone grafting was done in 12 cases and impacting bone grafting associated with cortical strut grafting in 8 cases. The mean amount of morsel ized bone was 20 g (5-35 g), the length of cortical bone was 10-22 cm. Results All the incisions got heal ing by first intension. All patients were followed up for an average period of 36 months (16-48 months). Dislocation occurred at 5 days after operation and was cured with closed reduction and traction in 1 case. There was significant difference (P lt; 0.05) in the mean Harris score between preoperation (50.0 ± 2.3) and postoperation (90.0 ± 2.5). The X-ray checking showed that continuous radiolucent l ine of 3 mm occurred in 1 case, prosthesis subsidence of 5 mm and 7 mm in 2 cases and that no bone absorption was observed. Seven cases of cortical bone grafting union was achieved within 3 years except 1 case of cortical bone un-union. Conclusion It can obtained the initial stabil ization of prosthesis to use all-coated long stem prosthesis associated with allograft in revision THR to treat femur bone defect after THR. The short-term effects of the cl inical and X-ray checking are satisfactory, but future effect is to be observed.
OBJECTIVE To analyze the indications for revision surgery after limb salvage procedure of malignant bone tumor and summarize the experiences in revision surgery. METHODS From January 1994 to December 1997, 8 cases were re-operated after primary limb salvage procedure. The average survival period with no-tumor occurrence was 8 years. The common causes for the revision were traumatic osteoarthritis, fracture, and bone resorption. The main difficulties in revision were soft tissue contracture and limb discrepancy from limb shortening. RESULTS In this study, there was total hip replacement in 1 case, large segmental allograft for reconstruction of distal femur in 3 cases, total knee replacement upon composite of previously transplanted allograft in 3 cases, removing of intramedullary nail and re-internally fixed with intramedullary nail in 1 cases. The isotopic bone scan before the revision showed active bone metabolism in all 4 transplanted segmental allograft. The pathologic study of the transplanted allograft after revision confirmed new bone formation in allograft. The revision procedure reduced the pain, and improved the limb function. CONCLUSION The main causes of revision surgery after limb salvage procedure of malignant bone tumor are fracture of transplanted allograft segment or devitalized tumor segment, and poor function of the affected joint. Constrained knee prostheses with rotating hinges or semi-constrained ball-axis resurfacing knee prostheses improve the function of knee joint postoperatively.