In patients undergoing long bone resection for osteosarcoma the use of bone allografts is a treatment option. How do they behave functionally and what is their long term osteointegration?
Material and methods: A retrospective, observational, longitudinal study was conducted to obtain clinical and radiologic data of the sample composed of a group of 15 patients with a diagnosis of limb osteosarcoma treated at our hospital with structural bone allografts. The Mankin and ISOLS (International Symposium on Limb Salvage) scales were applied to assess allograft functionality and osteointegration, respectively, from 1993 to 2006.
Results: Functional results were as follows: excellent, 10 patients (66.6%); good, one patient (6.6%), and poor, 4 patients (26%). The osteointegration assessment reported excellent results in 77% of cases at 18 months and in 87% at 2 years. Surgical wound infection was reported as a complication in only 2 patients (13.3%).
Conclusions: Functionality and osteointegration in patients undergoing conservative surgery with bone allografts are excellent in most cases, and this is the technique of choice for the treatment of long bone osteosarcomas.