[Treatment of proximal femoral benign lesions by proximal femoral nail anti-rotation combined with curettage and bone graft through the Watson-Jones approach].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) combined with curettage and bone graft through Watson-Jones approach in the treatment of proximal femur benign tumors and tumor like lesions.

METHODS

The clinical data of 38 patients with benign tumors and tumor like lesions in the proximal femur who were treated through the Watson-Jones approach with PFNA combined with curettage and bone graft between January 2008 and January 2015 were retrospective analysed. There were 24 males and 14 females with an average age of 28 years (range, 15-57 years). Pathological types included 20 cases of fibrous dysplasia, 7 cases of bone cyst, 5 cases of aneurysmal bone cyst, 3 cases of giant cell tumor of bone, 2 cases of enchondroma, and 1 case of non-ossifying fibroma. Before operation, hip pain occurred in 19 patients, pathological fracture occurred in 12 patients, limb shortening and coxa varus deformity was found in 4 patients, and 3 patients received surgery for the local recurrence. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and full-weight bearing time after operation were recorded. Patients were followed up to observe union of bone graft and the position of internal fixator on X-ray films and CT images. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate the level of pain. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS93) score was used to evaluate lower limb function. Harris hip score was used to evaluate hip joint function.

RESULTS

The operation time was 130-280 minutes (mean, 182 minutes) and the intraoperative blood loss was 300-1 500 mL (mean, 764 mL). After operation, 3 cases of fat liquefaction of incision healed successfully by carefully dressing, and the rest incisions healed by first intention. All patients started partially weight-bearing exercise at 2-4 weeks after operation. The total weight-bearing time was 3-6 months (mean, 4.2 months). All the patients were followed up 24-108 months (median, 60 months). Imaging examination showed that the bone graft fused and the fusion time was 8-18 months (mean, 11.4 months). During the follow-up period, there was no complication such as pathological fracture, femoral head ischemic necrosis, hip joint dislocation, internal fixation loosening and fracture, and no tumor recurrence or distant metastasis occurred. At last follow-up, the VAS score, MSTS93 score, and Harris score were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones ( <0.05).

CONCLUSION

The treatment of proximal femoral benign lesions by PFNA combined with curettage and bone graft through the Watson-Jones approach is safe and effective, with advantages of better mechanical stability, less residual tumor, and less postoperative complications.