Biomechanical analysis and effectiveness evaluation of zone Ⅰ+Ⅱ+Ⅲ reconstruction of hemipelvis with rod-screw prosthesis

Abstract

To analyze the biomechanical properties of the rod-screw prosthesis based on a pelvic three-dimensional finite element model including muscle and ligament, and evaluate the effectiveness of zoneⅠ+Ⅱ+Ⅲ reconstruction of hemipelvis with rod-screw prosthesis in combination with clinical applications. A total of 21 patients who underwent hemipelvic tumor resection (zoneⅠ+Ⅱ+Ⅲ) and rod-screw prosthesis reconstruction between January 2015 and December 2020 were selected as the research subjects. Among them, there were 11 males and 10 females; the age ranged from 16 to 64 years, with an average age of 39.2 years. There were 9 cases of chondrosarcoma, 7 cases of osteosarcoma, 3 cases of Ewing sarcoma, and 2 cases of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. According to the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score (MSTS) staging, there were 19 cases of stage ⅡB and 2 cases of stage Ⅲ. Preoperative Harris Hip Score (HHS) and MSTS score were 54.4±3.1 and 14.1±2.0, respectively. Intraoperative 15 cases underwent extensive resection, 5 cases underwent marginal resection, and 1 case underwent intralesional resection. The CT image of 1 patient after reconstruction was used to establish a three-dimensional solid model of the pelvis via Mimics23Suite and 3-matic softwares. At the same time, a mirror operation was used to obtain a normal pelvis model, then the two solid models were imported into the finite element analysis software Workbench 2020R1 to establish three-dimensional finite element models, and the biomechanical properties of the standing position were analyzed. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and operation-related complications were recorded, and the postoperative evaluation was carried out with HHS and MSTS scores. Finally, the local recurrence and metastasis were reviewed. Finite element analysis showed that the peak stress of the reconstructed pelvis appeared at the fixed S1, 2 rod-screw connections; the peak stress without muscles was higher than that after muscle construction, but much smaller than the yield strength of titanium alloy. The operation time was 250-370 minutes, with an average of 297 minutes; the amount of intraoperative blood loss was 3 200-5 500 mL, with an average of 4 009 mL. All patients were followed up 8-72 months, with an average of 42 months. There were 7 cases of pulmonary metastasis, of which 2 cases were preoperative metastasis; 5 cases died, 16 cases survived, and the 5-year survival rate was 72.1%. There were 3 cases of local recurrence, all of whom did not achieve extensive resection during operation. The function of the affected limbs significantly improved, and the walking function was restored. The HHS and MSTS scores were 75.2±3.0 and 20.4±2.0 at last follow-up, respectively, and the differences were significant when compared with those before operation (t=22.205, P<0.001; t=11.915, P<0.001). During follow-up, 2 cases of delayed incision healing, 2 cases of deep infection, 1 case of screw loosening, and 1 case of prosthesis dislocation occurred, and no other complication such as prosthesis or screw fracture occurred. The stress and deformation distribution of the reconstructed pelvis are basically the same as normal pelvis. The rod-screw prosthesis is an effective reconstruction method for pelvic malignant tumors.