Extending the usefulness of the Stryker Growing Prosthesis in pediatric patients.

Osteosarcoma is a highly invasive primary bone tumor that predominantly occurs in childhood and adolescence. The Stryker Growing Prosthesis provides a means of reconstructing large bone defects resulting from bone resection in skeletally immature patients. This device can be expanded as the patient grows. The possible length of extension depends on the length of the prosthesis. Because further expansion was not possible, by turning the adjustable part of the extension back to zero and adding a new permanent extension allow the prosthesis to be further adjusted as growth ensues. Using this method/device only, a separate endoprosthesis was required to be attached onto the extension. Therefore, the applicable cases are limited, because of the fact that extensive resection usually means total femoral replacement is best indicated. However, this method is still useful for reducing the number of revision surgeries in such cases. This reduces costs and increases savings for insurers/countries.