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AJR 2004; 182:963-970
© American Roentgen Ray Society


Imaging of Vascularized Fibula Autograft Placed Inside a Massive Allograft in Reconstruction of Lower Limb Bone Tumors

Marco Manfrini1, Daniel Vanel1,2, Massimiliano De Paolis1, Cristina Malaguti1, Marco Innocenti3, Massimo Ceruso3, Rodolfo Capanna3 and Mario Mercuri1

1 Dipartimento di Oncologia Muscolo-Scheletrica, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via Pupilli 1, Bologna 40136, Italy.
2 Present address: Institut Gustave Roussy, Rue Camille Desmoulins, Villejuif 94800, France.
3 Centro Traumatologico Ortopedico, Via Largo Palagi 1, Firenze 50139, Italy.

Received July 1, 2003; accepted after revision October 3, 2003.

 
Address correspondence to M. Manfrini (marco.manfrini{at}ior.it).


Abstract
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
 
OBJECTIVE. Bone allografts and vascularized fibula autografts were combined (the fibula inside the massive allograft) for skeletal reconstruction in a homogeneous group of patients. To verify the biologic behavior of the grafts, we followed the series using conventional radiography and CT analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twenty-four patients with bone tumors had intercalary segments of tibia or femur reconstructed and were followed up for 36–120 months. Sequential radiographs and CT scans were analyzed.

RESULTS. Three types of behavior were observed. In 13 patients, the allograft maintained its architecture without fracture, although a regular enlargement of the inlaid fibula led to progressive integration with the allograft. A dense line on allograft endosteum was the first sign of bone bridges heralding fusion of the two grafts. In eight patients, fracture or nonunion of the allograft occurred, and the autograft reacted with rapid appearance of dense hypertrophy that again induced bridges to the allograft. In three patients, no changes in autograft size and density were followed by fracture with no callus formation. This behavior was interpreted as unsuccessful vascularization of the autograft.

CONCLUSION. Sequential radiography and CT analysis enabled us to understand the changes in a combined graft offering an original way to revascularize bone allografts.


Introduction
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
 
After local resection of bone tumors, massive bone allografts used for reconstruction remain poorly vascularized and often resorb or break, whereas vascularized autografts often are not of the right size or shape. A combination of a vascularized fibula autograft placed inside a massive bone allograft was used in a consecutive series of intercalary reconstructions of the lower limb in patients with primary bone tumors. The authors followed up all patients for more than 3 years by sequential radiography and CT to analyze the radiologic patterns and correlate them with the biologic behavior of these combined grafts.


Materials and Methods
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
 
Between 1989 and 1996, 36 patients had combined bone grafts for reconstruction of intercalary skeletal gaps after resection for bone tumor of the lower limb. The technique consisted of replacing the affected skeletal segment by massive deep-frozen bone allograft (similar to the resected bones) properly prepared to receive on its endosteal surface a free fibula autograft always harvested from the contralateral leg. Extremities of the fibula were fitted inside residual bone stumps, and peroneal vessels were anastomosed to local vascular pedicles by microvascular sutures. Initially, the diaphyseal or metadiaphyseal allografts were longitudinally opened through a large window. In more recent cases, the window was reduced in length and width, and the fibula autograft inserted as an intramedullary rod in variable sections of the allograft bone. Twelve patients were excluded from the study: two underwent amputation 1 year after surgery, one because of infection and the other for local recurrence of an angiosarcoma; another presented with a local recurrent osteosarcoma 2 years after surgery and underwent amputation; and nine were lost to follow-up.

The 24 patients studied included 16 males and eight females with an average age of 14 years (range, 4–30 years). Diagnosis consisted of 13 osteosarcomas (12 classic, one periosteal), six Ewing's sarcomas, three adamantinomas, one malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and one low-grade fibrosarcoma. The proximal tibia was involved in 10 patients, the tibial shaft in eight, the distal tibia in two, and the femoral shaft in four. Eight of the 10 proximal tibia resections were performed through an intraepiphyseal osteotomy in patients with open physes (Figs. 1A,1B,1C). The mean length of the reconstructed segment was 15.5 cm (range, 8–26 cm). Internal fixation was defined as large in the seven patients in whom long plates bridged the whole implant. In the remaining 17 patients, fixation was considered small, with screws or short plates to secure the implant. Seventeen patients received pre- and postoperative chemotherapy according to their diagnoses. Postoperative recovery included cast immobilization for 30–60 days. Then all patients wore a protective weight-bearing brace for a variable period (range, 3–38 months; average, 16 months; median, 17 months).



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Fig. 1A. 9-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of proximal tibia. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT scans. Preoperative anteroposterior radiograph shows metaphyseal ossified tumor.

 


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Fig. 1B. 9-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of proximal tibia. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT scans. Preoperative coronal T1-weighted MR image (TR/TE, 500/20) shows tumor close to epiphyseal plate, but no abnormal signal is shown in epiphysis.

 


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Fig. 1C. 9-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of proximal tibia. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT scans. Radiograph of resected segment shows resection level through epiphysis (arrow).

 

At a mean follow-up of 7 years (range, 3–10 years), all patients were alive, one with inoperable metastases and two after surgical removal of pulmonary metastases. All patients had radiographic examinations every 6 months in the first 3 years and once a year thereafter. A total of 70 CT examinations of the implant were performed in 23 patients (one was followed up only on radiography): one examination in five patients, two successive examinations in five patients, three examinations in four patients, and four or more examinations in the remaining nine patients. CT studies were obtained on the same units (Sytec or Hi-Speed, General Electric Medical Systems), with the same acquisition parameters and bone and soft-tissue window settings.

A retrospective consensus review done by a surgeon and a radiologist evaluated on CT the following radiologic parameters: for the fibula, size, bone diameter, and thickness and density of the cortex; and for the allograft, thickness and density of the implanted bone (measured on CT or radiography for size and thickness, and evaluated visually for density). Only obvious changes in density (visible without measurements) were considered significant. Fractures of the fibula autograft and of the massive allograft and subsequent reaction (bone resorption or callus formation) were recorded. Changes in density in the allograft–fibula interface were evaluated and monitored. Fusion at the extremities of the grafts with the host bone and between the two grafts with bone bridges was evaluated. Spongiosis of the fibula cortex was considered when the fibula cortex was thickened and trabeculate like cancellous bone.


Results
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
 
Diameter of the fibula increased in 21 patients. In eight of these, the increase was associated with thickening of the cortex and was always associated with allograft fracture. In the first postoperative year, the density of the fibula decreased in four patients, was stable in 18, and increased in two. A delayed increase in density was visible in eight patients (six times after a fracture, twice after transverse fusion of the two grafts).

Thirteen fractures of the fibula and 12 fractures of the allograft were visible, which led to eight cases of hypertrophic callus formation on the fibula and eight on the allograft, respectively. Hypertrophy of the fibula occurred rapidly, always in the first month after the fracture and then progressed in the following months (Figs. 1F, 2A, and 2B). The fractured allograft evolved with progressive marginal resorption and small peripheral ossifications (Fig. 3D), or it was entrapped in the callus produced by the fibula (Figs. 2F,2G,2H). On CT, a dense line appeared on the endosteal surface of the allograft in 15 patients 12–18 months after surgery; in eight of these, it clearly increased in size and thickness during follow-up. Evidence of transverse fusion was found in all but three patients. Bridges between the two grafts were visible on CT in 18 patients after 2 years: large areas of osseous fusion were evident in 14 patients, although small multiple dense bridges were seen in four. Three patients could not be evaluated for bony bridges because of large synthesis and metallic artifacts on CT, but their grafts were considered transversally fused on radiography. Three patients did not present any transverse fusion. Thickening and trabeculation of the fibula cortex (spongiosis), resembling cancellous bone, were observed in nine patients where the fibula was inserted in a cylindric allograft or after the longitudinal fusion through large bridges.



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Fig. 1F. 9-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of proximal tibia. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT scans. Anteroposterior radiograph at 2 years of patient who had been walking without any support for a few months shows fibula fusiform hypertrophy and previously unnoticed stress fracture (arrow).

 


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Fig. 2A. 10-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of axial CT scans. Anteroposterior radiograph at 1 year shows patient wearing partial weight-bearing brace. Undisplaced fracture (arrows) of both grafts appeared with minimal pain and swelling.

 


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Fig. 2B. 10-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of axial CT scans. Anteroposterior radiograph obtained 1 month after A. After treatment in long leg cast, intense callus formation in fibula fracture (solid arrow) is seen, although fracture lines on allograft (dotted arrow) with resorption of allograft margins (arrowhead) are more evident.

 


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Fig. 3D. 14-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia for fibrosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT images. CT scan at 4 years (obtained 3 years after C) shows fracture (arrow) of allograft, although small ossifications (arrowhead) are seen on allograft surface. Inner portion of this implant did not change before and after complete weight bearing. After fracture, no rapid hypertrophy of fibula occurred. All these were considered signs of failure of transplanted fibula vascularity.

 


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Fig. 2F. 10-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of axial CT scans. CT scan at 2 years (obtained 9 months after fracture) shows intense hypertrophy of fibula. Fibula fracture callus (arrow) penetrates fractured allograft.

 


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Fig. 2G. 10-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of axial CT scans. CT scan at 3 years shows further increase of fibula diameter with entrapment of residual allograft (arrowhead) by hypertrophic callus (arrow).

 


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Fig. 2H. 10-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of axial CT scans. CT scan at 5 years shows remodeling of both grafts concomitant to spongiosis of newly formed bone (arrow and arrowhead). In this implant, weight rapidly shifted to fibula after allograft fracture and resorption. Fibula fracture callus penetrated allograft fragments, inducing intense remodeling of allogenic bone.

 

Three distinct radiologic patterns were observed. If the massive allograft fused to the host bone at the osteotomy and maintained its architecture without fractures, a slow and regular enlargement of the fibula autograft, without thickening of the cortex, led to a progressive integration into the allograft. A dense line on the endosteal surface of the allograft, clearly visualized on CT, suggested the induction of an internal layer of ossification and was the first step of a series of bone bridges heralding fusion of the two grafts. This pattern was observed in 13 patients (Fig. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H).



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Fig. 4A. 12-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT images. Postoperative anteroposterior radiograph shows fibula autograft (solid arrow) and massive allograft (dotted arrow).

 


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Fig. 4B. 12-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT images. Anteroposterior radiograph at 1 year shows patient wearing partial weight-bearing brace. Decrease in cortex density of fibula and complete fusion of osteotomies (arrows) are evident.

 


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Fig. 4C. 12-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT images. Anteroposterior radiograph at 3 years in patient who had been walking for 18 months with no support shows further remodeling of implant. Transverse fusion of transplanted fibula to allograft is noted.

 


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Fig. 4D. 12-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT images. Anteroposterior radiograph at 6 years shows displaced fracture (arrow) (healed in cast) of distal portion of implant.

 


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Fig. 4E. 12-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. CT scan at 3 months shows fibula autograft (solid arrow) and massive allograft (dotted arrows).

 


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Fig. 4F. 12-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. CT scan at 1 year shows fibula diameter is increased, but not its cortical thickness; faint line of density on endosteal surface of allograft (arrow) starts to be visible.

 


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Fig. 4G. 12-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. CT scan at 3 years shows dense line on most of endosteal surface of allograft (arrow). Medial transverse fusion is shown between spongiotic fibula cortex and endosteal allogenic bone (arrowhead).

 


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Fig. 4H. 12-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. CT scan at 6 years shows allograft is denser on all its surface. Fibula cortex is increased in both thickness and density. Medial fusion is complete. In this implant weight remained mainly on allograft.

 

When a fracture or nonunion of the allograft occurred, the living vascularized graft reacted to the increased load by rapidly producing a fast, dense cortical hypertrophy that induced bony bridges to the residual allograft. This pattern occurred in eight patients (Figs. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I, 1J and 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H).



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Fig. 1D. 9-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of proximal tibia. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT scans. Postoperative anteroposterior radiograph shows fibula autograft (solid arrow) and massive allograft (dotted arrow).

 


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Fig. 1E. 9-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of proximal tibia. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT scans. Anteroposterior radiograph at 1 year shows patient wearing partial weight-bearing brace. Fibula cortex is thin and porotic. Arrows indicate osteotomy sites.

 


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Fig. 1G. 9-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of proximal tibia. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT scans. Anteroposterior radiograph at 4 years; patient had returned to sports activities at school. Bowing of fibula (arrow) is due to its growth, although tibia has lost its proximal growth plate.

 


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Fig. 1H. 9-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of proximal tibia. Postoperative CT scan at 2 months shows fibula inserted in allograft. Solid arrow indicates fibula autograft; dotted arrow indicates massive allograft.

 


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Fig. 1I. 9-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of proximal tibia. CT scan at 2 years shows intense hypertrophy of fibula. Its cortex increased in both thickness and density (arrow). Fracture lines (arrowhead) in allograft are noticed.

 


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Fig. 1J. 9-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of proximal tibia. CT scan at 4 years shows further hypertrophy of fibula diameter creating osseous bridge (arrows) between thickened cortex of fibula and endosteal surface of allograft. In this implant, weight was first on allograft but shifted to fibula after allograft fracture.

 


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Fig. 2C. 10-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of axial CT scans. Anteroposterior radiograph obtained 3 months after B when patient had returned to protected walking in partial weight-bearing brace. Whole fibula graft hypertrophied with remodeling of fracture callus. Fracture line of allograft (arrow) is still evident with further resorption of fracture margins (arrowhead).

 


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Fig. 2D. 10-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of axial CT scans. Anteroposterior radiograph at 5 years, when patient had been walking without any support for 3 years, shows striking hypertrophy of fibula autograft brought to fusion to residual allograft (arrows).

 


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Fig. 2E. 10-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia because of osteosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of axial CT scans. CT scan at 1 year shows fibula autograft (solid arrow) and massive allograft (dotted arrow).

 

When no significant changes in fibula size, shape, and density were observed, and the fracture did not present any periosteal callus formation, then, ostensibly, vascularization of the autograft had failed. This pattern was seen in three patients (Fig. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D).



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Fig. 3A. 14-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia for fibrosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT images. Postoperative anteroposterior radiograph shows fibula autograft (solid arrow) and massive allograft (dotted arrow).

 


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Fig. 3B. 14-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia for fibrosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT images. Anteroposterior radiograph obtained at 4 years in patient who had been walking without any support for 2 years shows no changes in density or thickness of fibula cortex (solid arrow). Undisplaced fracture is evident on medial cortex of allograft (dotted arrow). Remodeling of proximal osteotomy progressed from epiphyseal plate for almost 2 cm into combined graft (arrowheads).

 


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Fig. 3C. 14-year-old boy with intercalary reconstruction of proximal tibia for fibrosarcoma. Dotted line on radiographs corresponds to level of CT images. CT scan at 1 year shows fibula inserted in allograft. Solid arrow indicates fibula autograft; dotted arrow indicates massive allograft.

 


Discussion
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
 
A limb salvage approach is currently feasible in most primary bone tumors of long bones. When surgical margins are wide, no difference is seen between the long-term survival of patients with amputation and those with limb reconstruction [1]. Massive allografts (usually fresh deep-frozen cadaver bone allografts) can restore size and shape similar to that of the resected bone. The drawback is that allografts are devoid of vascular supply, and infection, nonunion, and late fractures are a risk. Recent results, though, show a reduction in complication rates [24]. Bone formation (by creeping substitution) occurs at graft–host junctions, and a long time is presumed to be necessary, even in younger patients, before remodeling of a massive allograft that remains for many years as a dead spacer [5]. Histologic evaluation of retrieved massive allografts confirmed the slow creeping substitution not exceeding 2 cm at the allograft–host osteotomy, or no more than 2–3 mm at the outer part of the graft where the allograft cortex is covered by the host soft tissues [6, 7]. An MRI sequential study of allografts [8] revealed minimal endosteal enhancement during the first 2 postoperative years, but no endosteal revascularization of massive allografts has ever been shown.

Although the vascularized fibula autograft is never quite the right size or shape to bear the patient's weight, it may hypertrophy under a mechanical load. It has been used in a previously irradiated or infected tumor bed or in upper limb reconstructions [912], but complications are frequent [1315].

Vascularized fibula and massive allografts were combined in this series with the fibula autograft touching the endosteal surface of the allograft [16, 17]. In three patients, the vascularized graft failed. No radiologic changes in fibula patterns were visible, and after some time, both the allograft and the fibula graft fractured with no callus formation. In the other cases, the vascularized graft presented dimensional and structural changes over a long period of time, as expected of a living bone.

The radiologic follow-up showed changes related to load distribution on the different components of the implant. When the load was mainly on the allograft or on the allograft and large synthesis, the fibula exhibited regular hypertrophy without cortical thickening. If the fibula was well protected from mechanical stress by being fitted into a cylindric allograft, progressive spongiosis of the fibula cortex was the rule. In the interim, a line of ossification was seen on CT at the endosteal surface of the allograft and represented the first step in the induction of bony bridges between the two grafts. To our knowledge, such a sign has not been described.

When the load shifted mainly to the fibula autograft after nonunion or fracture of the allograft, the cortex of the fibula rapidly reacted to the increased load with fast and dense thickening. As the fibula hypertrophied, osteogenic lines again became evident on the endosteal surface of the allograft. We think the osteoblastic activity of the fibula, enhanced by load and microfractures, may induce a similar activity on the endosteal border of the allograft. Both behaviors represent the ability of a living transplanted bone to adapt to mechanical stress. When unstable fractures occurred, a hypertrophic cortical callus formation was often visible not only on the fibula but also on and into the allograft fracture, suggesting a deep revascularization of the allograft tissue.

In conclusion, we analyzed sequential radiography and CT of combined frozen allograft and vascularized fibula autograft for reconstruction of defects after tumor resection to monitor, evaluate, and understand the changes over time. Imaging revealed the osteogenic activity on the endosteal border of the allograft and the first signs of fusion of the two grafts. These data describe an original way of revascularization of the allograft bone by the intramedullary insertion of a living fibula autotransplant.


Acknowledgments
 
We thank Lorna Saint Ange and Alba Balladelli for editing the manuscript and Cristina Ghinelli for graphics work.


References
Top
Abstract
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
References
 

  1. Rougraff BT, Simon MA, Kneisl JS, Greenberg DB, Mankin HJ. Limb salvage compared with amputation for osteosarcoma of the distal end of the femur: a long-term oncological, functional, and quality-of-life study. J Bone Joint Surg Am1994; 76:649 –56[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Hernigou P, Delepine G, Goutallier D. Infections after massive bone allografts in surgery of bone tumors of the limbs: incidence, contributing factors, therapeutic problems [in French]. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot1991; 77:6 –13[Medline]
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  8. Kattapuram SV, Rosol MS, Rosenthal DI, Palmer WE, Mankin HJ. Magnetic resonance imaging features of allografts. Skeletal Radiol 1999;28:383 –389[Medline]
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  11. O'Connor MI, Sim FH, Chao EY. Limb salvage for neoplasms of the shoulder girdle: intermediate reconstructive and functional results. J Bone Joint Surg Am1996; 78:1872 –1888[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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Am. J. Roentgenol., June 1, 2006; 186(6): 1754 - 1760.
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