The functional evaluation of patients with primary malignant tumours about the knee treated by modular endoprosthetic replacement.

Between 1985 and 1992, 39 patients with primary malignant neoplasms about the knee presented to the musculoskeletal oncology service at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. Twenty-eight patients met the criteria for limb salvage surgery and underwent reconstruction using a modular endoprosthetic replacement. Twenty surviving patients and the modular prosthesis were evaluated using the rating system adopted by the Musculoskeletal Tumour Society. Eighteen patients had resection of the distal femur and two had resection of the proximal tibia. The average follow up was 36.5 months (range 6-93). Overall the results were excellent in two patients, good in 16 and fair in two. The prosthesis was rated as excellent in 13, good in four, fair in two and poor in one. The complications encountered are discussed. The authors conclude that this prosthesis provides a satisfactory form of reconstruction following limb salvage surgery for tumours about the knee.