OBJECTIVESTo review the patients with malignant pelvic tumors involving sacrum treated surgically and to discuss the methods of resection of tumors and reconstruction of defects.

METHODSNineteen patients with malignant pelvic tumors involving the sacrum were treated surgically in People's Hospital between July 1999 and July 2007. The series comprised 12 males and 7 females. Five patients were diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, 4 with Ewing sarcoma, 4 with osteosarcoma, 1 with malignant fibrohistiocytoma (MFH), 1 with giant cell tumor (GCT), and 4 with metastatic bone tumors. Acetabulum was preserved after resection of the iliac and sacral tumor and reconstructed with screw and rod system in 10 patients. Among this 10 patients, 5 of them were also done bone graft. Acetabulum was not preserved after resection of the iliac and sacral tumor and the defect was reconstructed with modular hemipelvic prosthesis in 9 patients.

RESULTSOncology result: 7 patients (7/19, 36.9%) had local relapse, including of 2 osteosarcoma, 2 chondrosarcoma, 2 Ewing sarcoma and 1 metastatic tumor. Two of 4 osteosarcoma, 2 of 4 Ewing sarcoma, 1 of 5 chondrosarcoma and 1 MFH patients died of lung metastasis. Two patients with metastatic lung cancer died of the disease 1 year after surgery. One patient with kidney carcinoma and 1 with thyroid carcinoma alive without of disease. Functional result: 8 patients with acetabular reconstruction after resection of pelvic and sacral tumors could walk with a cane 2 months after surgery. Average ISOLS function score was 20, including good in 3, fair in 5 and poor in 1 patient. One of the patient with modular hemipelvic prosthetic reconstruction occurred dislocation treated with 1 month after surgery and experienced open reduction. Hemipelvic prosthesis was took out in 1 patient because of the deep infection.

CONCLUSIONSFor patients with acetabulum preserved after resection of the iliac and sacral tumor, reconstructed with screw and rod system combining with bone graft is an ideal method for restoration. Bone graft with resected femoral head and neck on residual sacrum and modular hemipelvic prosthetic reconstruction after resection of the pelvic tumor involving of the secrum is a good choose.