German Luis Farfalli

Chondrosarcoma (CS) is the second most common primary malignant bone tumour and, in the absence of reliable chemotherapy and radiotherapy, is effectively a surgical disease. Overall disease specific survival (DSS) is affected by tumour grade, whilst resection margin contributes to local recurrence free survival (LRFS). The aim of this study was to investigate factors that affect the local and systemic prognoses for conventional central CSs arising from the proximal humerus. A multi-centre, retrospective study from three international collaborative sarcoma centres identified 110 patients between 1995 and 2020 undergoing treatment for a conventional central CS of the proximal humerus; 58 patients (53%) had a grade 1 tumour, 36 (33%) had a grade 2 tumour, and 16 patients (13%) had a grade 3 CS. The mean age of patients was 50 years (range 10–85). The incidence of local recurrence (LR) was 9/110 (8.2%), and the disease specific mortality was 6/110 (5.5%). The grade was a statistically significant factor for LRFS (p < 0.001). None of the grade 1 tumours developed LR. The DSS was affected by the grade (p < 0.001) but not by the LR (p = 0.4). Only one patient with a grade 2 tumour died from the disease. The proximal humeral grade 1 CS behaved as a benign tumour, having no cases of LR nor death due to disease. Grade 2 CSs of the proximal humerus behaved in a more indolent way when compared with comparable grade tumours elsewhere in the appendicular skeleton, being locally aggressive with a higher LR rate than grade 1 CSs but still having very low mortality and a high rate of DSS. The LR in grade 2 CSs did not affect the DSS; therefore, surgical management in proximal humeral grade 2 CSs should have a greater emphasis on preserving function whilst maintaining an adequate margin for resection. The proximal humeral grade 3 CS was, as elsewhere in the skeleton, an aggressive, high-grade tumour. Therefore, surgical management should include en bloc resection with clear margins to avoid LR.

Introducción El objetivo del estudio fue analizar las residencias ortopedia y traumatología en Argentina y determinar: 1) La proporción de mujeres; 2) Diferencias sociales y demográficas entre géneros: 3) Los factores que influyen positiva o negativamente en las mujeres al elegir ortopedia. Métodos Se realizó un estudio observacional y descriptivo en dos fases. Primera fase: se analizó la base de datos de la “Asociación Argentina de Ortopedia y Traumatología¨ durante el período 2016-2017. Segunda fase: se desarrolló una encuesta, enfocada en cuestiones demográficas, sociales y laborales, y se envió a todos los residentes de ortopedia. Resultados y conclusión Se incluyeron 933 residentes,121 (13%) eran mujeres y 812 (87%) eran hombres. Recibimos 259 (28%) respuestas de la encuesta. En las características demográficas encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas en términos de matrimonio o convivencia: mujeres (16%) vs hombres (42%) (p <0,001); paternidad (23.3%) vs maternidad (4.5%) (p <0.001). Observamos que las mujeres prefieren principalmente ortopedia infantil, pie y el tobillo y mano, mientras que la elección primaria de los hombres es la artroplastia y la artroscopia. Focalizándonos en las mujeres, las tres razones principales para elegir esta residencia fueron: gusto por el trabajo manual (59%), deseo personal (56%) y experiencia positiva en ortopedia durante la universidad (56%). Dentro de los factores disuasivos se relacionan principalmente con la idea de la gran demanda física y un ambiente de trabajo predominantemente masculino. En Argentina, las mujeres representan solo el 13% de todos los residentes de ortopedia y este número es similar a otros informes internacionales.

Background: Establishing the proper diagnosis and rendering appropriate treatment of spinal primary bone tumors (SPBT) can result in definitive cures. Notably, malignant, or benign SPBT (i.e., with aggressive local behavior) generally require en bloc resection. Osteotomies of the vertebral body in more than 1 plane may avoid critical structures, preserve nerve functions, and reduce the volume of healthy bone resected. Here, our objective was to report how we planned and performed navigated multiplanar osteotomies for en bloc resection of 14 SPBT. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 14 patients with malignant or locally aggressive benign SPBT operated on consecutively between 2014 and 2019 utilizing preoperative 3D planning/navigation. Tumors were resected in an en bloc fashion utilizing multiplanar osteotomies. Patients were followed for a minimum of 12 postoperative months. Results: Diagnoses included three benign but locally aggressive bone tumors (i.e., all osteoblastomas) and 11 primary sarcomas (i.e., six chordomas and five chondrosarcomas). Eleven tumors involved the sacrum and the other three, the thoracic spine. In 12 patients, the en bloc margins were classified as marginal (1 cm). Intraoperative navigation facilitated the performance of 40 osteotomies in 14 patients (median = 2.9, range = 2–6). Conclusion: Navigated multiplanar osteotomies increased the precision and safety of en bloc resections for 14 primary spinal bone tumors SPBT that included 11 malignant and three benign/locally aggressive lesions.

Introducción: El objetivo del trabajo fue revisar la actividad científica de nuestra institución, a través de las publicaciones indexadas en PUBMED y analizar: a) Número total de publicaciones; b) Tipo de publicaciones; c) Servicios participantes; d) Relación % publicaciones / % plantel medico hospitalario; e) Factor de impacto de las revistas. Metodología: Se realizó una búsqueda retrospectiva en la base de datos PUBMED entre 2013 y 2018 inclusive y todos los artículos que tenían en su afiliación "Hospital Italiano" (español) o "Italian Hospital" (ingles)” fueron revisados. De cada publicación se recopilo: autores, revista, factor de impacto, servicio involucrado, instituciones intervinientes e idioma de publicación. Resultados: Un total de 1421 publicaciones fueron incluidas para el análisis y se evidencio un aumento progresivo del 417% entre 2013 y 2018. 802 (56%) correspondían a trabajos propios de nuestra institución y 619 (44%) a trabajos multicéntricos. El servicio de Clínica Médica (341 – 23.99%) fue el que presento más publicaciones e Informática Médica el de mejor relación entre % de publicaciones y % plantel profesional (5.39). El 82% (1167) de las publicaciones fueron realizadas en el idioma ingles y el valor medio del factor de impacto fue 2,61 (rango: 0,01-29,78). Conclusión: La producción científica, medible por el número de publicaciones indexadas en PUBMED ha mostrado un aumento progresivo y sostenido en el tiempo desde 2013 a la fecha. Consideramos importante estimular y fomentar a los profesionales para continuar con la actividad científica sin descuidar los estándares de calidad de la actividad asistencial.

One of the most promising advances raised by the current computer age is performing research “in silico,” which means computer-assisted. The objective of this chapter is firstly to evaluate if a 3D in-silico model of an oncological patient could be used to make a 3D-printed prototype in real scale, discriminating precisely healthy tissues, tumoral tissues and oncological margins. Secondly, the objective is to evaluate if this prototype could be representative enough to allow testing osteotomies under navigated guidance based on images. A tumor resection for a patient with diagnosed metaphyseal osteosarcoma of the proximal tibia was transferred into a rapid prototyping model, fabricated using 3D printing and representing different structures in different colors. The planned osteotomy was executed using Stryker Navigator to guide the cutting saw and the prototype was opened to verify the precision of the performed osteotomy. Both osteotomy planes showed successful correspondence with the safe margin, with a maximum error of 1 mm. The application of these techniques in general orthopedics would help to reduce the incidence of unforeseen intraoperative failures, contributing to obtain predictable surgical procedures. This would implement a new way of performing development, research and training in orthopedics and traumatology by in-silico technology.

Xperience-the learning curve-has not, to our knowledge, been evaluated for navigation-assisted tumor resections. Questions/purposes (1) What intraoperative technical problems were observed during the first 2 years using navigation? (2) What was the mean time for navigation procedures and the time improvement during the learning curve? (3) Have there been any differences in the accuracy of the registration technique that occurred over time? (4) Did navigation achieve the goal of achieving a wide bone margin? Methods All patients who underwent preoperative virtual planning for tumor bone resections and operated on with navigation assistance from 2010 to 2012 were prospectively collected. Two surgeons (GLF, LAA-T) performed the intraoperative navigation assistance. Both surgeons had more than 5 years of experience in orthopaedic oncology with more than 60 oncology cases per year per surgeon. This study includes from the very first patients performed with navigation. Although they did not take any formal training in orthopaedic oncology navigation, both surgeons were trained in navigation for knee prostheses. Between 2010 and 2012, we performed 124 bone tumor resections; of these, 78 (63%) cases were resected using intraoperative navigation assistance. During this period, our general indications for use of navigation included pelvic and sacral tumors and those tumors that were reconstructed with massive bone allografts to obtain precise matching of the host and allograft osteotomies. Seventy-eight patients treated with this technology were included in the study. Technical problems (crashes) and time for the navigation procedure were reported after surgery. Accuracy of the registration technique was defined and the surgical margins of the removed specimen were determined by an experienced bone pathologist after the surgical procedure as intralesional, marginal, or wide margins. To obtain these data, we performed a chart review and review of operative notes. Results In four patients (of 78 [5%]), the navigation was not completed as a result of technical problems; all occurred during the first 20 cases of the utilization of this technology. The mean time for navigation procedures during the operation was 31 minutes (range, 11-61 minutes), and the early navigations took more time (the regression analysis shielded R2 = 0.35 with p < 0.001). The median registration error was 0.6 mm (range, 0.3-1.1 mm). Registration did not improve over time (the regression analysis slope estimate is −0.014, with R2 = 0.026 and p = 0.15). Histological examinations of all specimens showed a wide bone tumor margin in all patients. However, soft tissue margins were wide in 58 cases and marginal in 20. Conclusions We conclude that navigation may be useful in achieving negative bony margins, but we cannot state that it is more effective than other means for achieving this goal. Technical difficulty precluded the use of navigation in 5% of cases in this series. Navigation time decreased with more experience in the procedure but with the numbers available, we did not improve the registration error over time. Given these observations and the increased time and expense of using navigation, larger studies are needed to substantiate the value of this technology for routine use. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic study....

Allograft transplantation is a biologic reconstruction option for massive bone defects after resection of bone sarcomas. This type of reconstruction not only restores bone stock but it also allows us to reconstruct the joint anatomically. These factors are a major concern, especially in a young and active population. We are describing indications, surgical techniques, pearls and pitfalls, and outcomes of proximal humeral osteoarticular allografts, done at present time in our institution. We found that allograft fractures and articular complications, as epiphyseal resorption and subchondral fracture, are the main complications observed in proximal humerus osteoarticular allograft reconstructions. Nevertheless, only fractures need a reconstruction revision. Joint complications may adversely affect the limb function, but for this reason, an allograft revision is rarely performed.

Image-guided surgical navigation allows the orthopedic oncologist to perform adequate tumor resection based on fused images (CT, MRI, PET). Although surgical navigation was first performed in spine and pelvis, recent reports have described the use of this technique in bone tumors located in the extremities. In long bones, this technique has moved from localization or percutaneous resection of benign tumors to complex bone tumor resections and guided reconstructions (allograft or endoprostheses). In recent years, the reported series have increased from small numbers (5 to 16 patients) to larger ones (up to 130 patients). The purpose of this paper is to review recent reports regarding surgical navigation in the extremities, describing the results obtained with different kind of reconstructions when navigation is used and how the previously described problems were solved.