Limb salvage strategy for malignant bone tumors around the shoulders

Objective To investigate the limb salvage strategy in malignant tumor resection around the shoulder.Methods 19 patients underwent limb salvage procedures for treatment of malignant tumors around the shoulders since 1992.There were 12 in males and 7 in females and with the mean age of 29.8 years old.There were 7 osteochondrosarcomas,4 osteosarcomas,3 metastatic carcinomas of bone,3 giant-cell tumors of bone,2 Ewing sarcomas.5 lesions were treated with reimplantation of tumor-bearing bone after alcohol devitalization,4 with the total scapula resection and the head of humerus slinging,4 with the tumor-bearing bone resection and construction with free periosteum vascularized clavicle,2 with tumor resection and replacement of prosthesis,2 with the part scapula resection,1 with fibula grafting and 1 with bone cement.Results 16 cases were followed-up with the mean time of 2.2 years(3 months～7 years).1 case recurred,4 cases had lung metastasis and 6 died.The limb functional results were excellent in 4 cases,good in 5,fair in 5 and poor in 2.Conclusions According to the different location of the malignant bone tumors around shoulders to perform different limb-salvage could resect the tumor and reserve the function of the joint.