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GROWTH AFTER EXTENDIBLE ENDOPROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT OF THE DISTAL FEMUR

Oncology Service, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Bristol Road South, Northfield, Birmingham B31 2AP, UK.

P. S. Walker, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Trust, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4LP, UK.

Correspondence should be sent to Mr W. P. Cool at Walnut Cottage, Upton Magna, Shropshire SY4 4TZ, UK.

We report our results in 24 children with malignant primary bone tumours of the distal femur treated with a Stanmore extendible endoprosthesis (SEER). This consists of a femoral component that can be lengthened, a constrained knee and an uncemented sliding tibial component which crosses the proximal tibial physeal plate perpendicularly.

The average age of the patients at diagnosis was ten years and the mean follow-up was 4.7 years (2.5 to 7.9). The mean growth of the affected tibia was 76% (18 to 136) and of the fibula 83% (15 to 750) of the growth of the unaffected limb.

Measurement of growth arrest lines showed that the mean growth of the proximal tibial physis on the affected side was 69% (43 to 100) of that of the normal side. The great variability in the growth of the physis cannot yet be explained.