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Abstract Background and aims Endoprosthetic replacements of the proximal femur are commonly required to treat destructive metastases with either impending or actual pathological fractures at this site. Modular prostheses provide an off the shelf availability and can be adapted to most reconstructive situations for proximal femoral replacements. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and functional outcomes following modular tumour prosthesis reconstruction of the proximal femur in 100 consecutive patients with metastatic tumours and to compare them with the published results of patients with modular and custom made endoprosthetic replacements. Methods 100 consecutive patients who underwent modular tumour prosthetic reconstruction of the proximal femur for metastases using the METS system from 2001 to 2007 were studied. The patient, tumour and treatment factors in relation to overall survival, local control, implant survival and complications were analysed. Functional scores were obtained from surviving patients. Results and conclusion There were 45 male and 55 female patients. The mean age was 60.2 years. The indications were metastases. Seventy five patients presented with pathological fracture or with failed fixation and 25 patients were at a high risk of developing a fracture. The mean follow up was 15.9 months [range 0–77]. Three patients died within 2 weeks following surgery. 69 patients have died and 31 are alive. Of the 69 patients who were dead 68 did not need revision surgery indicating that the implant provided single definitive treatment which outlived the patient. There were three dislocations (2/5 with THR and 1/95 with unipolar femoral heads). 6 patients had deep infections. The estimated five year implant survival (Kaplan-Meier analysis) was 83.1% with revision as end point. The mean TESS score was 64% (54%–82%). We conclude that METS modular tumour prosthesis for proximal femur provides versatility; low implant related complications and acceptable function lasting the lifetime of the patients with metastatic tumours of the proximal femur.

Background: Extendable endoprostheses are used to reconstruct segmental defects following resection of bone sarcomas in skeletally immature patients. However, there remains a paucity of studies with regard to long-term outcomes.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 124 skeletally immature children who underwent an extendable endoprosthetic replacement and survived more than 10 years after the surgical procedures. Anatomical sites included the distal part of the femur (n = 66), the proximal part of the femur (n = 13), the proximal part of the tibia (n = 29), and the proximal part of the humerus (n = 16). Complications and implant survival were classified according to the modified Henderson criteria.Results: The mean follow-up was 24 years (range, 10 to 36 years). The mean age at the time of the extendable endoprosthetic replacement was 9 years (range, 2 to 16 years). All patients had reached skeletal maturity at the last follow-up. The 10-year endoprosthetic failure-free survival rate was 28%. A total of 243 complications occurred in 90% of patients; these complications were most frequently related to soft-tissue problems (27% of complications). The incidence of and cumulative survival with respect to each failure mode varied between anatomical sites. Soft-tissue failures occurred most frequently in the proximal part of the femur (77%; p = 0.003), and the distal part of the femur was the most frequent site of aseptic loosening (52%; p = 0.014) and structural failure (55%; p = 0.001). Excluding lengthening procedures, 105 patients (85%) underwent an additional surgical procedure, with a mean of 2.7 surgical procedures per patient (range, 0 to 7 surgical procedures per patient). The mean limb-length discrepancy at the final follow-up was 1 cm (range, 0 to 9 cm). Limb salvage was achieved in 113 patients (91%). The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional score (the percentage of a total score of 30 points) was 82% (range, 40% to 100%) in 115 patients with available data at the last follow-up.Conclusions: Extendable endoprostheses are associated with a high complication rate and a need for additional surgical procedures over time. Despite this, successful limb salvage with reasonable function and small limb-length discrepancy is achievable in the long term. Our study provides benchmark data for individual anatomical sites for further improvements of outcomes.Level Of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]