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. 2010 Jun 22;468(11):2896–2903. doi: 10.1007/s11999-010-1418-1

Proximal and Total Humerus Reconstruction With the Use of an Aortograft Mesh

German A Marulanda 1,✉, Eric Henderson 1, David Cheong 2, G Douglas Letson 2
PMCID: PMC2947671  PMID: 20568029

Abstract

Background

The shoulder is commonly affected by primary and metastatic tumors. Current surgical techniques for complex shoulder reconstruction frequently result in functional deficits and instability. A synthetic mesh used in vascular surgery has the biological properties to provide mechanical constraint and improve stability after tumor related shoulder reconstruction.

Questions/purposes

We describe (1) surgical technique using a synthetic mesh during humerus reconstructions; (2) functional level defined as shoulder ROM of patients undergoing the procedure; (3) incidence of postoperative dislocation and shoulder instability; and (4) complications associated with the use of the device.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 16 patients with proximal humerus replacements reconstructed with a synthetic mesh from February 2006 to July 2008. Patients were followed clinically and radiographically for a minimum of 13 months (mean, 26 months; range, 13–43 months).

Results

There were no shoulder dislocations at the latest followup. The mean shoulder flexion was 43° (range, 15°–170°) and mean shoulder abduction of 38 (range, 15°–110°). The mean operative time was 121 minutes (range, 80–170 minutes) and the mean blood loss was 220 mL (range, 50–750 mL). One patient had a superficial wound infection and none a deep infection requiring removal of the graft or prosthesis.

Conclusions

The data suggest the use of a synthetic vascular mesh for proximal humerus reconstruction may reduce dislocations and facilitate soft tissue attachment and reconstruction after tumor resection.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Introduction

Modern advances in orthopaedic oncology have allowed limb salvage in the treatment of tumors of the appendicular skeleton [3]. However, the preservation of the affected limb with metallic endoprostheses or allografts after tumor resection is often associated with substantial soft tissue loss and functional deficits [42, 43, 46]. Functional limitations such as instability and increased risk for joint dislocation [4, 9, 18], gait abnormalities [4, 29, 41], postoperative stiffness [49, 51], and pain [4, 9] after reconstruction of tumors involving the lower extremity are well documented. The shoulder is commonly affected by primary and metastatic tumors [37]. Functional deficits and instability are particularly frequent after any type of tumor reconstruction about the shoulder [4, 5, 11, 22, 24, 25, 35, 37, 44, 47, 52].

The concept of limb salvage for tumors of the upper extremity is not new [35]. Multiple surgical techniques such as the Tikhoff-Linberg procedure [15, 31, 32], shortening arthrodeses [2, 6], fibular transplants [19], en bloc shoulder allografts [8, 41], and metallic implants [9, 28, 34] have been described to reconstruct the shoulder after tumor resection and avoid the need of forequarter amputations. All of these procedures have been associated with joint instability and recurrent dislocations [25], “flail extremity” [13], traction neuropraxia [4, 5, 11], donor site morbidity [2, 19, 35], or multiple revision surgeries [35]. The development of novel biomaterials has allowed reliable limb reconstructions with endoprostheses and the advances in diagnostic imaging techniques have allowed precise tumor resections preserving neurovascular bundles [40].

A synthetic mesh commonly used in vascular surgery could be used to reduce the rate of dislocation and facilitate soft tissue attachment after proximal or total humerus reconstruction in the treatment of tumors of the upper extremity. By creating a sleeve that anchors in the native glenoid and wraps around the reconstructed proximal humerus, a synthetic mesh may improve postoperative stability and function and may provide a biocompatible scaffold for soft tissue ingrowth.

We describe (1) the surgical technique using a synthetic mesh during humerus reconstructions; (2) the functional level and shoulder ROM of patients undergoing the procedure; (3) the incidence of postoperative dislocation and shoulder instability; and (4) the complications associated with the use of the device.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of 16 patients with proximal humerus replacements supplemented with the use of an aortograft mesh between February 2006 and July 2008. The study included patients who had a bone malignancy of the proximal aspect of the humerus. All patients included in this study had type IA or IB resections using the Malawer classification of shoulder girdle resections [30]. Patients with soft tissue sarcomas or bone tumors of the clavicle, scapula, or only the humeral diaphysis were excluded. Patients underwent limb-sparing resection and reconstruction with metallic endoprostheses when the preoperative imaging studies suggested that a satisfactory surgical margin could be achieved. Preoperative evaluation included a complete physical examination with special attention to neurovascular and functional status of the affected limb (in an attempt to document involvement of the major neurovascular bundles and overall status of the shoulder girdle musculature). Staging studies included plain radiography, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography of the shoulder girdle and upper extremity as described by Bickels and colleagues [4]. Core needle biopsy was performed after the completion of all the staging studies and attention was given to the location of the biopsy site as to not interfere with the resection and reconstruction surgical incision. Staging distribution was as follows: five patients Stage IIB, four patients Stage IIIA, four patients Stage IIIB, and three patients Stage IV (Table 1). The aortograft was used in 11 primary proximal humerus replacements and five revision cases after failed shoulder reconstruction for metastatic renal cell carcinoma in three cases, Hodgkin’s lymphoma in one case and osteosarcoma in one patient. There were 11 women and five men who had a mean age of 51 years (range, 14–71 years) at the time of surgery. The mean body mass index was 24.67 (range, 16.3–42.9). We excluded one patient who died of metastatic disease 1 month following reconstruction. The minimum followup of the remaining 15 patients was 13 months (mean, 26 months; range, 13–43 months; median 24 months). The study was approved by our Institutional review board (IRB) and Scientific Review Committee (SRC).

Table 1.

Demographic variables

Patient Age (years) Deceased Age at death (years) Gender Diagnosis Weight (kg) Height (cm) Body mass index Side Prosthesis Length of resection (cm)
1 49 No NA Male Multiple myeloma 152 177 42.9 Right Stryker 10
2 56 No NA Female Metastatic carcinoma 78.5 168.9 23.2 Right Stryker 12
3 64 No NA Female Multiple myeloma 62 163 19.0 Right Stryker 10
4 14 No NA Female Osteosarcoma 66 162.6 20.3 Right Stryker 24
5 15 No NA Female Osteosarcoma 63 187.6 16.8 Right Stryker 13
6 62 No NA Female Lymphoma 95 170 27.9 Right Stryker 11
7 56 No NA Male Osteosarcoma 95 177.8 26.7 Left Stryker 10
8 67 Yes 68 Male Metastatic lung cancer 76.7 170 22.6 Right Stryker 11
9 70 No NA Male Metastatic renal cell carcinoma 108 177 30.5 Right Stryker 13 
10 24 No NA Female Osteosarcoma 56.6 172.7 16.4 Right Biomet 12
11 63 No NA Female Large B cell lymphoma 74 170 21.8 Right Stryker 13 
12 50 Yes 52 Female Chondrosarcoma 86.6 177.8 24.4 Left Stryker 10
13 64 Yes 65 Male Metastatic renal cell carcinoma 107 179 29.9 Left Stryker 12 
14 33 No NA Female Metastatic breast cancer 55.7 154.9 18.0 Left Stryker 12
15 64 No NA Female Multiple myeloma 62 163 19.0 Right Stryker 12
16 71 No NA Female Metastatic renal cell carcinoma 71 177 20.1 Right Stryker 12 
Mean 51         82 172 24     12.5
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NA = not applicable.

Several studies have reported in detail the surgical technique for proximal humerus replacement using metallic endoprostheses after tumor excision [29, 37, 47, 50, 51]. As the humeral insertions for the rotator cuff complex and deltoid muscle are often involved in the resection, all of these techniques have stressed the importance of conserving a sufficient soft tissue envelope for reconstruction and the need to recreate sites for attachment of remaining structures. We supplemented these approaches with a synthetic mesh (Gore Graft; Gore Medical, Flagstaff, AZ) commonly used in cardiovascular procedures [10, 12, 38, 39, 49]. The “aortograft” is a flexible, self-expanding tube of polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) used for the treatment of aortic aneurysms. The graft is available in diameters of 26 to 45 mm and in lengths of 10 to 20 cm (Fig. 1). All of the synthetic tubes used in this study had 38-mm diameters and 20-cm lengths (the initial length was further adjusted intraoperatively depending on the amount of humerus resection and overall status of residual soft tissue envelope). The ePTFE is biologically inert [18] and there are no reports of allergic or host versus graft responses with the use of the graft.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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Aortograft mesh with proximal humerus replacement is shown.

All but one of the procedures was performed with the use of Stryker (Global Modular Replacement System (GMRS) Stryker Orthopaedics, Mahwah, NJ) prostheses and instruments. The remaining patient received a Biomet (Biomet Mosaic Humeral Replacement System, Biomet Inc, Warsaw, IN) proximal humerus replacement. We determined the length of the humerus resection based on pre- and intraoperative planning, with the use of magnetic resonance imaging and/or computerized tomography scans and intraoperative biopsy of the medullary canal sampled after the initial osteotomy.

All of the procedures were performed through an extended anterior approach [36]. The skin incision starts superior to the coracoid process, follows the line of the deltopectoral groove and extends distally depending on the expected level of humerus resection. The soft tissue dissection is dependent on the presence or absence of tumor compromise (extraskeletal involvement) and it is carried down to the humeral periosteum. Once the proposed level of humeral resection is identified, an oscillating saw is used to make the osteotomy (Fig. 2). The main soft tissue attachments to the proximal humerus (such as the rotator cuff tendons and joint capsule) are identified and tagged (Fig. 3). Curette samples from the medullary canal are sent for pathology analysis and confirmation of disease free remaining bone. Using four evenly spaced bioabsorbable screws (Fig. 4), the end of the aortograft is anchored and secured to the glenoid (Fig. 5). The endoprosthesis is cemented in place and the prosthetic humeral head is introduced through the free end of the aortograft. A purse-string suture is passed at the level of the neck-head junction to further secure the graft to the prosthesis (Fig. 6). The remaining soft tissues are attached to the aortograft, covering it entirely, and the surgical incision is closed following anatomic planes. (Fig. 7) Hemostasis is maintained throughout the procedure using a bipolar sealer device (Aquamantys™; Salient Surgical, Dover, NH) and standard electrocautery (Electrosurgical Pencil; Valleylab, Boulder, CO).

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

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Identification of the level of resection of proximal humerus is shown.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

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Soft tissue structures, capsule and rotator cuff muscles are tagged and identified for repair.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 4

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The glenoid is visualized for anchoring of the aortograft mesh.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 5

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The glenoid view with the aortograft secured in place is shown.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 6

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A pursestring suture on the aortograft securing the neck of the prosthesis is shown.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 7

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Attachment of soft tissue structures on the aortograft mesh and layered closure of the surgical incision are shown.

Postoperatively, patients received intravenous vancomycin for the duration of the hospital stay (mean, 3 days; range, 1–9 days). Patients were allowed to ambulate freely with a sling for the affected upper extremity and were instructed to perform pendulum exercises on postoperative day 1.

The physical therapy team assisted with all patient activities after the procedure. During the hospital stay and for the first 4 weeks (home or in-patient physical therapy) only passive range of motion exercises to less than 100º elevation, 20º external rotation, and 35º abduction were initiated. During this stage no active range of motion, resistance or strengthening exercises were performed with the involved upper extremity. Active range of motion exercises were initiated after week 7 to include light strengthening maneuvers. Over the head activities and heavy lifting were not recommended in all cases. Medications upon discharge for all patients included oral ciprofloxacin and doxycycline for 3 weeks and a short course of narcotic pain medication.

Patients were followed clinically and radiographically at 3 weeks after discharge, followed by visits at 7 weeks and 6 months after discharge. ROM was assessed during the postoperative clinic visits.

Results

At latest followup, mean shoulder flexion was 43° (range, 15°–170°). The patient with shoulder flexion of 15° was a 50-year-old woman with a diagnosis of chondrosarcoma. She succumbed to her disease 20 months after the proximal humerus replacement. The mean shoulder abduction was 38° (range, 15°–110°). In this case, the patient with 15° of abduction was a 67-year-old man with a diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer who died of the disease 6 months after the surgical intervention.

None of the patients had a shoulder dislocation or instability requiring repeat surgery. One of the patients in the subgroup of revision surgery presented with clinical and radiographic evidence of anterior subluxation of the proximal humerus replacement. This patient is able to perform most of his daily activities and has not had any further surgery.

There were no revision surgeries. A patient with a diagnosis of metastatic renal cell cancer had a superficial wound infection with dehiscence that required irrigation and débridement in the operating room. There was no intraoperative evidence of deep extension of the infection and it was controlled with a postoperative course of intravenous and oral antibiotics. The patient died 1 year after the surgical procedure. The use of the aortograft represents an additional surgical step during the proximal humerus reconstruction. The mean operative time was 121 minutes (range, 80–170 minutes). Blood loss is an important variable in orthopaedic tumor reconstructions. There was a mean blood loss of 220 mL (range, 50–750 mL). The patient with 750 mL of blood loss was a 64-year-old patient with a diagnosis of metastatic renal cell cancer and hypertension. Of note, the patient had a past medical history of multiple symptomatic deep venous thromboses that required long-term anticoagulation.

Discussion

The shoulder has the largest ROM in the human skeleton. In contrast with the hip, the glenohumeral joint has six degrees of freedom and a major component of the overall stability is provided by soft tissue attachments [1, 21]. Modern metallic endoprostheses permit the orthopaedic surgeon to reconstruct large segments of diseased bone. However, these constructs lack the soft tissue-bone interface required for function. Several studies have focused on the proximal femur to try to understand the complex relationship of tendon-bone interfaces [16, 27, 33]. Osteoconductive scaffolds [53], metallic anchors for soft tissues [20], predetermined suture sites embedded in the metallic prostheses [50], and coating of the prostheses with novel materials [14, 16, 45], have been described to promote soft tissue ingrowth and improve function after limb salvage with endoprostheses. All of the surgical options for proximal humerus reconstruction have been associated with instability [25], recurrent dislocation [25, 38], and overall poor function [36, 38]. In the present study, the authors describe the surgical technique using an aortograft during humerus reconstructions, the functional level and shoulder ROM of patients undergoing the procedure, and the incidence of postoperative dislocation and shoulder instability.

We acknowledge several limitations to our study. First, it is a small sample of patients. Proximal humerus reconstruction for tumors is a relatively rare surgical procedure and it is difficult to accumulate large series in a single institution. We report on 16 patients (accrual over 17 months) who underwent a proximal humerus reconstruction with the use of an aortograft mesh at a large National Cancer Institute designated cancer center. Second, we had a relatively short followup of a mean of 26 months (range 13 to 43 months). Patients with osteosarcoma have a short life expectancy (68% at 5 years) 40 and in the case of other primary tumors (such as renal cell) with metastasis to bone, the survival decreases even more to a median life expectancy of 12 months [48]. Although only one of the patients described in this series died (13 months after the procedure), the authors believe that some of the most important functional deficits (dislocations and instability) are evident within the present study followup and adversely affect quality of life during the remaining survival [23]. A mean followup of 26 months allows adequate time to assess soft tissue attachment, restoration of function, and occurrence of dislocations [22, 37]. In other series [7] three of 36 patients (8%) presented with dislocations after proximal humeral replacements at a mean followup of 26 months (minimum followup of 6 months). Third, we lacked a control group. The authors continued using the aortograft mesh in all patients after the first procedure was performed in February of 2006. An attempt to compare the present series to previous procedures performed by the same surgeon without the use of the aortograft mesh was abandoned due to difficulty with matching of diagnoses, preoperative limb function, and number of cases available.

Kumar et al. [26] reported on 10 patients who underwent limb salvage procedures of the upper extremity. Patients were followed for a mean of 18 months and they observed acceptable function (defined as patients free of disease and pain and able to return to occupational activities but not sports) in 30% of their patients [26]. None of the patients described in that series was able to perform over the head activities. O’Connor et al. [37] published the functional results of 57 patients who had a limb salvage procedure for a tumor of the shoulder girdle region. The average followup was 5.3 years (median, 4.6 years). They concluded that proximal humeral replacements produced symptomatic instability that leads to a secondary arthrodesis in some patients [37]. Camnasio et al. [7] reported on 37 proximal humerus reconstructions. At a mean followup of 26 months, 30.6% of patients had satisfactory functional results (compared to 74% of patients with proximal femur replacements) [7]. Finally, Mourikis et al. [35] concluded all reconstruction approaches to the proximal humerus, resulted in functional problems for the patient (Table 2).

Table 2.

Comparison of results

Author Year Patients Followup Dislocations Comments
Bickels et al. [4] 2002 92 75 NA Poor functional results in 7.5% of patients
Gosheger et al. [17] 2001 16 31 0 Use of trevira tube for soft tissue reconstruction
Camnasio et al. [7] 2008 36 26 3 Good results (Enneking score) in 30% of patients
O’Connor et al. [37] 1996 11 63 6 Two patients had arthrodesis due to symptomatic instability at 22 and 48 months respectively
Mourikis et al. [35] 2007 26 108 NA No patient had postoperative normal range of motion and all were limited in flexion, abduction, and external rotation
Wittig et al. [50] 2002 23 120 0 MSTS scores 80% to 90%
Kiss et al. [24] 2007 14 51 11* One patient required revision surgery
Kitagawa et al. [25] 2007 10 21 2 Mention in text of use of a “mesh” attached to the glenoid for soft tissue reconstruction (no further description)
Marulanda et al. [current study] 2010 16 26 0
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NA = not available; *1 Dislocation and 10 symptomatic subluxations.

Several studies report the use of modified surgical techniques and new biomaterials with improved function after proximal humerus reconstruction. Wittig et al. [50] analyzed the long-term survival and function and complications associated with limb-sparing surgery for 23 patients with osteosarcoma of the proximal humerus. In all patients, the endoprosthetic replacement was stabilized by static suspension (Dacron® tapes) and dynamic suspension (muscle transfers). At latest followup (median, 10 years), 15 patients (65%) were alive without evidence of disease. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society upper extremity functional score ranged from 24 to 27 (80%–90%). All shoulders were stable and pain-free. The most common complication was a transient neuropraxia (n = 8) [50]. Gosheger et al. [17] studied 69 megaprostheses implanted with the use of a polyethylene terephthalate (Trevira®) tube to support reconstruction of the capsule and soft tissues. In cases of proximal humerus replacement (16 patients), the tube allowed for reconstruction of the capsule and refixation of the muscles. No dislocation was observed in patients with a proximal humerus endoprosthesis. They analyzed the implanted trevira tube in six patients who had revision surgery for aseptic loosening of a distal femur (one patient), revised periprosthetic fracture (one patient), amputations for local recurrence (three patients), and low-grade late infection (one patient). The histopathologic findings in those patients showed tissue ingrowth into the tube. They concluded, in soft tissue reconstruction of megaprostheses, the reattachment of soft tissues and joint capsules is essential and can be adequate with the use of biomaterials such as polyethylene terephthalate [17].

Our data suggest the use of an aortograft mesh during proximal humerus reconstruction may reduce dislocations and facilitate soft tissue attachment and reconstruction after tumor resection. Our findings should prompt larger investigations to confirm the safety and clinical benefits of this straightforward surgical technique. In addition to tumor control, surgical procedures should provide an adequate quality of life with reduced complications and repeat surgery. The sleeve created by the aortograft allows for both mechanical restraint and ingrowth potential for soft tissue attachments.

Footnotes

Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Each author certifies that his or her institution approved the human protocol for this investigation and all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research.

This work was performed at the Moffitt Cancer Center.

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