Effects of Taylor Spatial Frame on tumors and tumor-like lesions with pathological fractures of lower extremities

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of Taylor spatial frame (TSF) on tumors and tumor-like lesions complicated with pathological fractures of the lower extremities.

Methods: Eighty-two patients admitted from September 2013 to January 2015 were selected. Forty-two cases were included in Group-A to receive TSF fixation and forty were included in Group-B to receive locking plate fixation. The surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative healing rate of primary incision, incidence rate of complications, hospitalization stay length, and fracture healing time as well as rate of excellent and good Enneking scores one year after surgery were compared.

Results: The intraoperative blood losses of Group-A and Group-B were (150.0±6.5) ml and (201.9±7.4) ml respectively (P<0.05). The surgical times were (77.3±8.9) minutes and (96.5±5.9) minutes respectively (P<0.05). The postoperative rates of complications in the two groups (4.76% vs. 10.00%) were similar (P>0.05). The primary incision healing rates of Group-A and Group-B were 97.62% and 82.50% respectively. The hospitalization stays were (15.7±0.9) days and (15.2±0.7) days respectively (P>0.05). The fracture healing times were (30.1±2.1) weeks and (32.4±2.2) weeks respectively (P<0.05). The rate of excellent and good Enneking scores one year after surgery was 97.61% in Group-A and 95.00% in Group-B (P>0.05).

Conclusions: Tumors and tumor-like lesions complicated with pathological fractures of the lower extremities can be effectively treated by TSF.