Resection-arthrodesis for malignant and potentially malignant lesions about the knee using an intramedullary rod and local bone grafts.

Twenty patients with malignant or potentially malignant tumors (osteogenic sarcoma, giant-cell tumor, synovial-cell sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and chondroblastoma) located in the proximal end of the tibia or distal end of the femur were treated by local resection and arthrodesis employing an intramedullary rod and autogenous segmental cortical grafts obtained from the same extremity. Use of a customized bent, fluted rod in the most recent cases provided more stable fixation. There was only one local recurrence. In properly selected patients, the method provided a stable extremity that permitted resumption of a vigorous life-style within approximately one year.