A new strategy to remove broken femoral mega-prostheses with hollow trephine reamers

Abstract

Prosthetic replacement for the reconstruction of bone tumor is the standard method in limb salvage surgery. However, the breakages of prosthesis in these patients are frequent because the patients are young and active. Removal of the broken stem remained in the bone medulla is a highly difficult technical procedure in revision surgery. This article describes a new method to remove the well-fixed broken femoral stem with a hollow trephine reamer in patients with prosthetic replacement of the distal femur for primary bone tumors.