Case series study: the diagnosis and treatment of fifty tumors and pseudotumors at the proximal femur

Abstract

Tumor and pseudotumor (TP) at the proximal femur (PF) can seriously affect mortality, extremity function, and body integrity. However, reports often focused on a specific tumor, not regional lesions. This study focuses on clinical findings, imaging, micro-pathology, and the treatment of all TP at the site. The study involved all patients who had a confirmed tumor or pseudotumor diagnosis at the PF. The clinical findings, X-ray, and biopsy were recorded and analyzed. Treatment was optional depending on the patient’s situation and available condition of the hospital. The functional outcome, bone healing were defined at the last examination or two years of follow-up. Fifty patients were involved in the study. Twenty-four patients had apparent tumors. TP at the PF, neck-trochanter, trochanters, and neck were 21 (42%), 16 (32%), 9 (18%), and 4 (8%) cases, respectively. There were 29 (58%) pathologic fractures. Biopsy was made for all patients. Twenty-three cases (46%) were malignant, and 8 (16%) cases were giant cell tumors. Thirty-three patients suffered from an operation. Ennerking’s functional score was excellent, good, fair, and poor in 24 (48%), 5 (10%), 1 (2%), and 20 (40%) patients, respectively. For the last outcomes of 33 operated patients, 17 healed, three unchanged, one worse, and two dead. For the PF TP, the rate of malignant and pathological fracture was high. The giant cell tumor was not rare. The resection of the TP combined with grafts using ordinary fixation devices was satisfactory.