The use of massive bone allografts in bone tumour surgery of the limb

Massive bone allograft reconstruction is commonly used for limb salvage after malignant bone tumour resection. Since the early 1980s, we have performed 540 operations in the limb with more than 2 years follow-up. The major complication was infection with a high risk of implant failure and significant risk of amputation. Structural failure of the graft is a common reason for further surgery, as is non- or delayed union. Additional autograft gives better results and half of our allografts survived 216 months.