The History of Bone Tumour Treatment and the State of the Art in Vienna

Abstract

Purposes: Bone tumours have been a tragedy for the patient in any time period. In the majority of the cases it occurs in children or young adults. In the past the affected limbs could not be spared and the overall prognosis was poor. Methods :Chemotherapy successfully introduced for the purpose of overcoming the poor overall prognosis (Rosen and Jaffe) and tumour prostheses were invented for the purpose of salvaging the affected limbs (Marcove, Scales, Campanacci, Sivas, Salzer). According to the Vienna Tumour Registry in 1968, the first custom-made Vitallium prosthesis for the proximal femur was implanted in a parosteal osteosarcoma. Results: In Vienna, as a result of the successful chemotherapy the surgical methods for bone tumours changed to limb sparing methods also. A modular ceramic prosthesis for the proximal humerus was introduced by Salzer. From 1975 -1982 16 custom-made endoprosthesis (1) for the knee region were implanted which were replaced by the KMFTR in 1982 (2, Kotz modular femur tibia reconstruction system) which was introduced at the “2nd ISOLS” to an international group of experts. The successful system was followed by the HMRS (Howmedica modular resection system) in 1988. At that time, especially in children, the rotation-plasty of Borgreve was adopted for tumours of the knee region (2). A scientific survey of 70 patients with rotation-plasty until 1991 showed excellent clinical and oncologic results. Later a similar approach was used in upper extremity tumours as “resection replantation” with surprisingly good results. Sophisticated technologies with growing mechanisms allowed the use of endoprostheses even in children (3) for the purpose of substitution since the mutilating rotation-plasty in 1996. Conclusion: For almost 100 years efforts have been undertaken to improve the treatment of bone tumours. Surgery was aiming to keep the function of the limbs by tumour resection instead of amputation. Together with successful chemotherapy, which saves lives, an adequate surgery could stepwise salvage the function of the limb. Body integrity was the final aim for the diseased. Finally, by the effort of the International Societies like ISOLS and EMSOS the survival of malignant bone tumour patients improved from 20% to 80 % with good function quality by sophisticated operative techniques and improved tumour prostheses.