Adjuvant argon-based cryoablation for joint-preserving tumor resection in patients with juxta-articular osteosarcoma around the knee.

BACKGROUNDS: Opinion remains controversial as to whether joint-saving surgery could be safely performed in patients with juxta-articular osteosarcoma. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of adjuvant cryosurgery in joint salvage surgery.

METHODS

We evaluated the oncological and functional outcomes of patients who underwent joint-sparing surgery in which argon-based cryoablation was employed to aid partial epiphysis-preserved tumor resection for osteosarcoma around the knee (7 in proximal tibia, 5 in distal femur).

RESULTS

The study included 12 patients (5 male, 7 female, mean age 15.8 years (11-24). At a mean follow-up of 48.4 months (38-61), lung metastasis occurred in three patients. Among these, one patient had died, one was alive with disease, and one had no evidence of disease after lobectomy. Histological examination of the resected specimens revealed no viable tumor at the osteotomy plane. There was no local recurrence in the residual epiphysis except one in soft tissue. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional score was 92.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Argon-based cryosurgery is a reliable method of sterilizing the tumor in the epiphysis thus allowing safe joint-saving tumor resection possible in patients with juxta-articular osteosarcoma.