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Allograft-Prosthesis Composite Reconstruction of the Proximal Part of the Humerus

Functional Outcome and Survivorship

¹ Orthopaedic Surgery Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California at Irvine, 101 The City Drive South, Pavilion III, Building 29A, Orange, CA 92868

Investigation performed at the Orthopaedic Surgery Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Disclosure: In support of their research for or preparation of this work, one or more of the authors received, in any one year, outside funding or grants in excess of $10,000 from Biomet. Neither they nor a member of their immediate families received payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity. A commercial entity (Biomet) paid or directed in any one year, or agreed to pay or direct, benefits in excess of $10,000 to a research fund, foundation, division, center, clinical practice, or other charitable or nonprofit organization with which one or more of the authors, or a member of his or her immediate family, is affiliated or associated.

Methods: An allograft-prosthesis composite was used to reconstruct a proximal humeral defect following tumor resection in thirty-six consecutive patients at one institution over a sixteen-year period. The reconstruction was performed at the time of a primary tumor resection in thirty cases, after a failure of a reconstruction following a previous tumor resection in five patients, and following excision of a local recurrence in one patient. The mean duration of follow-up of the living patients was five years. Glenohumeral stability, function, implant survival, fracture rate, and union rate following the reconstructions were measured. Functional outcome and implant survival were analyzed on the basis of the amount of deltoid resection, whether the glenohumeral resection had been extra-articular or intra-articular, and the length of the humerus that had been resected.

Results: One patient sustained a glenohumeral dislocation. Deltoid resection (partial or complete) resulted in a reduced postoperative range of motion in flexion and abduction but had no effect on the mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score. Extra-articular resections were associated with lower Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scores. All patients had either mild or no pain and normal hand function at the time of final follow-up. The overall estimated rate of survival of the construct, with revision as the end point, was 88% at ten years. There were three failures due to progressive prosthetic loosening that necessitated removal of the construct. Four patients required an additional bone-grafting procedure to treat a delayed union of the osteosynthesis site.

Conclusions: An allograft-prosthesis composite used for limb salvage following tumor resection in the proximal part of the humerus is a durable construct associated with an acceptable complication rate. Deltoid preservation and intra-articular resection are associated with a greater range of shoulder motion and a superior functional outcome, respectively.

Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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