Clinical and functional results of endoprosthetic reconstruction in malignant tumors around the elbow

Purpose: It was aimed to present the clinical and functional results of the patients who underwent tumor resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction due to malignant tumor around the elbow.

Methods: 14 patients who underwent tumor resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction due to malignant tumor in the elbow circumference between 2011-2018 in our clinic were included in the study. While 4 of the patients were primary tumors (1 fibromixoid sarcoma, 1 leimyosarcoma, 1 multiple myeloma and 1 ewing sarcoma), 10 were distant organ metastases (4 breast cancer, 3 lung cancer, 1 stomach cancer, 1 renal cell cancer and 1 thyroid cancer). Musculoskeletal Tumour Society (MSTS) score and Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) and survival were evaluated.

Results: The minimum follow-up period of the patients was 7 months, and the maximum follow-up period was 55 months. The mean MEPS score of the patients was 67.5 ± 12.0 (range, 45-90), and the mean of the MSTS score was 19.4 ± 2.3 (range, 16-24). Recurrence occurred at follow-up in 3 patients and exitus at follow-up in 7 patients. In this study, the median survival time of the patients was 44 months. The 1-year survival rate was 70.1% while the 3-year survival rate was 54.5%.

Conclusion: Pain and functional results are satisfactory in patients who undergo tumor resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction due to malignant tumor around the elbow. In the future, studies with larger patient series are needed.