Management of Primary Malignant Bone Tumors of the Knee

Primary malignant bone tumors appear to be preferentially located around the knee, but they remain rare. The prosthetic treatment of these tumors is experiencing a significant rise today, both technically and technologically.

We report retrospective study of nine cases of primary malignant knee tumors, patients with extra-articular bone damage or a tumor dependent on soft tissue were excluded. The average age was 21 years. Radiological and extension assessments were carried out in all patients. The average follow-up was 30 months.

The treatment consisted in all patients of pre and post- operative chemotherapy, associated with a carcinological monoblock resection, and reconstruction by total massive cemented knee prosthesis. There was only one case of local recurrence, treated by a secondary mid- thigh amputation. Functional results according to Lysholm’s score were excellent in 77,78% of cases and middling in 22,22% of cases.

Multidisciplinary management with early diagnosis, appropriate extension assessment, and conservative surgery on two steps with a period of observation, gives better results.