OBJECTIVETo summarize the effects and complications of osteosarcoma around knee treated by wide resection and replacement by the tumor-type prosthesis.

METHODSBetween July 1997 and July 2004, 117 patients with osteosarcoma around the knee had been treated with wide resection and reconstruction with prosthesis. Alcohol-devitalized tumor bone prosthetic composite were used for reconstruction in 13 patients, and allograft prosthetic composite (APC) were used in 25 patients. All patients accepted 2 cycles of chemotherapy before the surgery.

RESULTSThe mean follow-up period was 3.5 years (1 - 8 years). Nine patients had failure of union at the graft-host junction. Fracture of the stem of the prosthesis occurred in 5 patients, late infection was found in 19 patients, and aseptic loosening occurred in 3 patients. Bone fracture occurred in 1 patient and prosthesis sinking occurred in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe tumor-type prosthetic reconstruction offers the best knee function after resection of the tumor around the knee, and recurrence rate can be accepted. However, the tumor-type prosthesis needs further improvement because of the high complication rate.