Secondary Osteoarthritis After Curettage and Calcium Phosphate Cementing for Giant-Cell Tumor of Bone Around the Knee Joint: Long-Term Follow-up

Clinical results of knee juxta-articular giant-cell tumors treated with bone cement filling and internal fixation after extensive curettage

OBJECTIVES

This study was to evaluate the radiological and clinical outcomes of patients with juxta-articular giant-cell tumors (GCTs) around the knee treated with bone cement filling and internal fixation after extensive curettage.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 15 patients (6 males, 9 females; mean age: 35.3±8.4 years; range, 24 to 53 years) with juxta-articular GCTs around the knee were retrospectively reviewed between January 2010 and June 2020. Wound healing, functional status as assessed by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scores, local recurrence, metastasis, and complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up was 41.3±9.9 (range, 24 to 69) months with an overall survival of 93.3%. The mean distance between tumor and cartilage was 6.29±3.73 mm. Five patients underwent reconstruction with cancellous allografts and the mean distance between tumor and cartilage was 2.20±1.48 mm in these patients. At the final follow-up, three patients had Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 2 tibiofemoral osteoarthritis in the operated knee. Lucent zones around the bone cement with no further progression were found in five patients. One patient experienced recurrence 17 months after surgery and was treated by en-bloc resection and reconstructed with a tumor endoprosthesis. The remaining 14 patients had a mean MSTS score of 26.86±2.11 (range, 23 to 30) at the final follow-up. The mean overall range of motion at the final follow-up was 109.20±14.20° (range, 85 to 130°).

CONCLUSION

Bone cement filling and internal fixation after extensive curettage is a viable strategy for accessing juxta-articular GCTs around the knee. The choice of local adjuvants, subchondral bone grafting, and the thickness of subchondral bone require more attention to preserve the continuity of articular cartilage.

Giant cell tumor of bone and secondary osteoarthritis

Giant cell tumor of bone is a commonly encountered aggressive epiphyseal bone tumor, most often treated surgically. The natural history and presentation are classically described but the histopathology is poorly understood. Intralesional curettage is the mainstay of treatment, but there is significant variation in the use of adjuvant and cavity filling modalities. No gold standard has been agreed upon for treatment, and a variety of techniques are currently in use. Given its location, secondary osteoarthritis is a known long-term complication. This review examines the natural history of giant cell tumors, treatment options and complications, and subsequent development of osteoarthritis. Arthroplasty is usually indicated for secondary osteoarthritis although data is limited on its efficacy. Further directions will likely center on improved pharmacological treatments as well as improved arthroplasty techniques.

What factors are associated with osteoarthritis after cementation for benign aggressive bone tumor of the knee joint: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The current systematic review aimed to answer the following questions: (i) Does extended curettage combined with the PMMA technique for the treatment of aggressive bone tumors around the knee led to the development of knee osteoarthritis? (ii) What factors are associated with osteoarthritis after bone cementation around the knee joint?

Methods

This study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. All electronic searches were performed on November 20, 2022, by a single researcher who evaluated the full texts of potentially eligible studies to determine inclusion. In these patients, the presence of osteoarthritis secondary to the surgical procedure was investigated. Data extracted included study type, characteristics of participants, sample size, gender, tumor site (femur or tibia), secondary osteoarthritis, tumor volume, distance from the joint cartilage, reoperation, follow-up time, Campanacci grade, and pathological fracture.

Results

In total, 11 studies comprising 204 patients were evaluated, and it was found that 61 (30%) patients developed knee osteoarthritis due to extensive curettage and bone cement application for benign aggressive tumor treatment. According to the results obtained based the random effects model with the 11 studies included in the meta-analysis, the mean odds ratio of development knee OA with the 95% CI was calculated as -2.77 (-3.711, -1.83), which was statistically significant (z = -5.79; P < 0.000).

Conclusion

The association of distance between the tumor and joint cartilage and development of osteoarthritis was not shown in this meta-analysis.

Level of Evidence

Level IV prognostic study.

Comprehensive evaluation and advanced modification of polymethylmethacrylate cement in bone tumor treatment

Bone tumors are invasive diseases with a tendency toward recurrence, disability, and high mortality rates due to their grievous complications. As a commercial polymeric biomaterial, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement possesses remarkable mechanical properties, injectability, and plasticity and is, therefore, frequently applied in bone tissue engineering. Numerous positive effects in bone tumor treatment have been demonstrated, including biomechanical stabilization, analgesic effects, and tumor recurrence prevention. However, to our knowledge, a comprehensive evaluation of the application of the PMMA cement in bone tumor treatment has not yet been reported. This review comprehensively evaluates the efficiency and complications of the PMMA cement in bone tumor treatment, for the first time, and introduces advanced modification strategies, providing an objective and reliable reference for the application of the PMMA cement in treating bone tumors. We have also summarized the current research on modifications to enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of the PMMA cement, such as drug carriers and magnetic hyperthermia.

Total Knee Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis Is Uncommon after Intralesional Curettage in Giant Cell Tumor of Bone

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is most often treated with intralesional curettage; however, periarticular lesions have been shown to increase risk for osteoarthritis. Additionally, the location of these lesions may occasionally preclude a joint-sparing procedure in recurrent tumors. This study sought to investigate rates of secondary arthroplasty in long-term follow-up of knee GCTB. Cases of knee GCTB treated at our institution were reviewed. Rates of recurrence and secondary arthroplasty were recorded, and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed. The records of 40 patients were reviewed. Local recurrence occurred in 25% of patients. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) probability was 87.4% (95% CI, 77.0-97.7), 72.4% (95% CI, 57.6-87.2), and 72.4% (95% CI, 57.6-87.2), respectively. Function improved after surgery with a mean preoperative MSTS score of 14.9 (standard deviation [SD] 8.4) and mean postoperative MSTS score of 25.1 (SD 5.6) (p <0.001). Three patients had evidence of radiographic osteoarthritis at the last follow-up though they did not require arthroplasty. Arthroplasty was performed as a secondary procedure in six patients. Five patients underwent arthroplasty for recurrent tumors after initial treatment with curettage and one patient underwent patellar arthroplasty for osteoarthritis after initial treatment with an allograft composite arthroplasty. Arthroplasty is performed as a secondary procedure in patients with GCTB at a relatively infrequent rate and more often for cases of recurrent disease than for osteoarthritis. Overall, patients treated for GCTB have improved functional outcomes after surgery than before. Large, multi-institutional studies may be required to assess the incidence of secondary osteoarthritis requiring arthroplasty as this was an infrequent finding in our cohort.

Incidence and progression of osteoarthritis following curettage and cementation of giant cell tumor of bone around the knee: long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a benign locally aggressive tumor frequently treated with intralesional curettage and cementation. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term incidence of arthritic changes following curettage and cementation of GCTB around the knee.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was a retrospective review of patients with GCTB around the knee treated with curettage and cementation with a minimum follow-up of 10 years. The functional results were assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score. The arthritic changes were classified using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) classification system of osteoarthritis.

RESULTS

This study included 119 patients, 54 males and 65 females, with a mean age of 29.4 ± 9.2 years. There were 35 (29.4%) patients with pathological fractures. There were 84 (70.6%) patients with de novo lesions and 35 (29.4%) with recurrent lesions. The mean follow-up period was 13.2 ± 3.16 years. The mean MSTS score was 28.5 ± 1.9. Overall, 25 (21%) patients developed variable degrees of arthritis of KL grade 1 (n = 7), KL grade 2 (n = 11), KL grade 3 (n = 4), and KL grade 4 (n = 3). Ten patients showed progression of arthritis during the follow-up period. Age at presentation, gender, presence of pathological fracture, whether the tumor was de novo or recurrent, and tumor location were not associated with arthritis incidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Curettage and cementation can be used safely to treat GCTB around the knee. Arthritis of the knee is a possible complication, but mild grades are expected in most cases. There was no association between arthritis incidence and age, gender, pathological fractures, tumor location, or recurrent tumors.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Packing with alpha-tricalcium phosphate followed by curettage and phenol-ethanol ablation for appendicular giant cell tumor of bone

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is an intermediate and locally aggressive bone tumor. Alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) is an adjustable bone substitute used to fill various sizes of bone cavities after curettage for GCTB. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcome of packing with alpha-TCP followed by curettage and phenol-ethanol ablation. We retrospectively reviewed data of 16 patients with GCTB who underwent primary surgery in our institute between January 2009 and April 2021. Data of Campanacci grading system; number of local recurrences and distant metastases; local recurrence-free survival rate using the Kaplan-Meier method; oncological outcomes; and complications after surgery (secondary osteoarthritis and postoperative fracture) were evaluated in this study. Regarding the Campanacci grading system, 2 patients were classified as grade I, 14 as grade II, and none as grade III. The 5-year local recurrence-free survival rate was 77.8% in all cases. Lung metastasis was not detected in this study. Oncological outcomes were: continuous disease free, 13 patients; alive with disease, 3 patients; and no evidence of disease or death of disease, none of the patients. Secondary osteoarthritis after surgery was not detected in the present study. Packing with alpha-TCP followed by curettage and phenol-ethanol ablation for appendicular GCTB may be safe and effective in suppressing the risk of secondary osteoarthritis.

Application of osteoinductive calcium phosphate ceramics in giant cell tumor of the sacrum: report of six cases

This study aimed at evaluating the possibility and effectiveness of osteoinductive bioceramics to fill the tumor cavity following the curettage of sacral giant cell tumor (GCT). Six patients (four females and two males, 25–45 years old) underwent nerve-sparing surgery, in which the tumor was treated by denosumab, preoperative arterial embolization and extensive curettage. The remaining cavity was filled with commercial osteoinductive calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramics, whose excellent osteoinductivity was confirmed by intramuscular implantation in beagle canine. All patients were followed by computed tomography (CT) scans postoperatively. According to the modified Neer criterion, five cases obtained Type I healing status, and one case had Type II. At the latest follow-up, no graft-related complications and local recurrence were found. The CT scan indicated a median time of healing initiation of 3 months postoperatively, and the median time for relatively complete healing was 12 months. The excellent bone regenerative ability of the ceramics was also confirmed by increased CT attenuation value, blurred boundary and cortical rim rebuilding. In conclusion, osteoinductive CaP bioceramics could be an ideal biomaterial to treat the large remaining cavity following extensive curettage of sacral GCT. However, further investigation with more cases and longer follow-up was required to confirm the final clinical effect.

Primary total knee arthroplasty assisted by computed tomography-free navigation for secondary knee osteoarthritis following massive calcium phosphate cement packing for distal femoral giant-cell bone tumor treatment: a case report

BACKGROUND

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is an intermediate tumor commonly arising from the epiphysis of the distal femur and proximal tibia. Standard GCTB treatment is joint-preserving surgery performed using thorough curettage and the filling of the cavity with allo-, auto-, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or synthetic bone graft. Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) is an artificial bone substitute, which has the benefit of being able to adjust defects, consequently inducing immediate mechanical strength, and promoting biological healing. Secondary osteoarthritis may occur following GCTB treatment and may need additional surgery if severe. However, details regarding surgery for secondary osteoarthritis have not been fully elucidated. There are no reports on the use of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for the treatment of secondary osteoarthritis following CPC packing. The insertion of an alignment rod is a standard procedure in TKA; however, it was difficult to perform in this case due to CPC. Therefore, we used a computed tomography (CT)-free navigation system to assist the distal femur cut. This study presents a knee joint secondary osteoarthritis case following CPC packing for GCTB curettage that was treated with standard TKA.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 67-year-old Japanese woman, who was previously diagnosed with left distal femur GCTB and was treated by curettage and CPC packing 7 years ago, complained of severe knee pain. Left knee joint plain radiography revealed Kellgren and Lawrence (K-L) grade 4 osteoarthritis without evidence of tumor recurrence. Therefore, she was scheduled for TKA. There are no reports on the cutting of a femoral condyle surface with massive CPC with accurate alignment. Because it is difficult to insert the alignment rod intramedullary and cut the femoral condyle with CPC, we planned CT-free navigation-guided surgery for accurate bone cutting using an oscillating tip saw system to prevent CPC cracks. We performed standard TKA without complications, as planned. Postoperative X-ray showed normal alignment. Knee Society Knee Score (KSKS) and Knee Society Function Score (KSFS) ameliorated from 27 and 29 to 64 and 68, respectively The patient can walk without a cane postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

There was no report about the surface TKA guided by CT-free navigation after primary GCT surgery with CPC. We believe that this case report will help in planning salvage surgery for secondary osteoarthritis after CPC packing.

Fibular strut allograft or bone cement for reconstruction after curettage of a giant cell tumour of the proximal femur : a retrospective cohort study

AIMS

Giant cell tumours (GCTs) of the proximal femur are rare, and there is no consensus about the best method of filling the defect left by curettage. In this study, we compared the outcome of using a fibular strut allograft and bone cement to reconstruct the bone defect after extended curettage of a GCT of the proximal femur.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, we reviewed 26 patients with a GCT of the proximal femur in whom the bone defect had been filled with either a fibular strut allograft (n = 12) or bone cement (n = 14). Their demographic details and oncological and nononcological complications were retrieved from their medical records. Limb function was assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up was 116 months (SD 59.2; 48 to 240) for the fibular strut allograft group and 113 months (SD 43.7; 60 to 192) for the bone cement group (p = 0.391). The rate of recurrence was not significantly different between the two groups (25% vs 21.4%). The rate of nononcological complications was 16.7% in the strut allograft group and 42.8% in the bone cement group. Degenerative joint disease was the most frequent nononcological complication in the cement group. The mean MSTS score of the patients was 92.4% (SD 11.5%; 73.3% to 100.0%) in the fibular strut allograft group and 74.2% (SD 10.5%; 66.7% to 96.7%) in the bone cement group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Given the similar rate of recurrence and a lower rate of nononcological complications, fibular strut grafting could be recommended as a method of reconstructing the bone defect left by curettage of a GCT of the proximal femur. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(2):297-301.