Our experience with Van Nes Rotationplasty for locally advanced lower extremity tumours.

OBJECTIVE: To present an early experience with the time-tested technique of Van Ness Rotationplasty to save distal lmbs.

METHODS: Van Nes Rotationplasty for locally advanced lower extremity tumours. A reterorespective audit was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised cases of bone and soft tissue sarcoma who underwent Van Ness Rotationplasty over seven years from January 2005 to December 2011. Demographic data, family history, past history, co-morbids, date since diagnosis, duration of symptoms, type of tumour, metastasis, pre-op and post-op functional status, recurrence and survival were collected.

RESULTS: Of the 351 cases of bone and soft tissue sarcoma, 9 (2.6%) underwent Van Ness Rotationplasty and were included in the study. The mean duration of symptoms was 7±3SD months (range: 8-41 months). All except 1(11.1%) were osteogenic sarcomas. All except 1(11.1%) involved distal femur. Overall, 7(77.8%) had localised Enneking stage IIB disease. Two (22.2%) patients expired due to metastatic disease, but none had local recurrence. Complete excision of tumour was achieved in all (100%) patients. Longest follow-up was of 34 months while the shortest was of 6 months. No local recurrences were noted. Functional recovery was good. Two (22.2%) patients had simultaneous sciatic nerve repair as part of the primary procedure. Both of them had good motor function at the time of final follow-up. Mean Musculoskeletal Tumour Societyscore was 23.88±2SD.

CONCLUSIONS: Van Nes Rotationplasty was found to be a successful alternative to amputation in cases of locally advanced tumours of distal femur or proximal tibia.