Twenty patients with malignant or potentially malignant tumors
(osteogenic sarcoma, giant-cell tumor, synovial-cell sarcoma,
chondrosarcoma, and chondroblastoma) located in the proximal end of the
tibia or distal end of the femur were treated by local resection and
arthrodesis employing an intramedullary rod and autogenous segmental
cortical grafts obtained from the same extremity. Use of a customized bent,
fluted rod in the most recent cases provided more stable fixation. There
was only one local recurrence. In properly selected patients, the method
provided a stable extremity that permitted resumption of a vigorous
life-style within approximately one year.