Functional evaluation in distal femoral endoprosthetic replacement for bone sarcoma.

A multicenter study of successfully treated patients (mean age, 36.7 years) with a minimum 1-year followup (average, 35.4 months) after distal femoral endoprosthetic replacement for bone sarcoma was done using the 1987 and 1993 versions of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, the Short Form-36, and the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score functional evaluation criteria. Fifty-six patients (28 women and 28 men) fulfilled the criteria. Thirty-one Kotz prostheses (fixed hinge, uncemented) and 25 Modular Replacement System Prostheses (rotating hinge, cemented) were used. Thirty-five patients walked without aids, 19 used a cane, and two used crutches or a walker. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 1987 mean score was 28.1. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 1993 mean score was 80.4. The Toronto Extremity Salvage Score mean was 81.6. The Short Form-36 Physical Component Score had a mean of 43.2 and Mental Component Score mean of 54.2. The two groups of implants were comparable, except for the length of bone resection. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that patient age, existence of a pathologic fracture, and type of prosthesis all significantly accounted for differences in functional outcome as measured by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 1993, the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score, and the Short Form-36 Physical Component Score scales. Although both implants provided satisfactory function, the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society 1993 and the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score results were significantly better with the Modular Replacement System prosthesis. The effect of possible differences among surgeons or institutions was not addressed.