Outcomes of prophylactic intramedullary fixation for benign bone lesions

Abstract

Background: In this study, we aimed to present the results of patients who underwent prophylactic intramedullary fixation for benign bone lesions. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients who underwent curettage, grafting and prophylactic intramedullary fixation for benign bone lesions between 2008 and 2017 were included in this study. The lesions were examined according to the Mirels’ classification in the preoperative period and the pathological fracture risk was determined. Curettage, allografting and intramedullary fixation were used in the treatment of all patients. In the follow-up examination, patients were evaluated according to the range of motion, pain, radiological appearance of the lesion and the implant. Results: The mean age of the patients was 24.8 (7-38) years. The mean follow-up period was 35.8 (13-80) months. The initial complaint of twenty-one patients was pain which caused loss of function in two patients. One patient with pathological humerus fracture was admitted with acute pain and loss of function. He was followed conservatively for two months, then prophylactic surgery was performed. The mean Mirels’ score of the patients was 9.3 (9-10). In the follow-up examination, the range of motion was full in all patients. The mean VAS score decreased from 8.09 to 2.54 postoperatively. Conclusions: We conclude that prophylactic fixation for benign bone lesions which has 9 or more Mirels’ score reduces the risk of impending pathological fractures, reduces VAS scores, and also prevents loss of function and enables to return normal activity earlier.