Successfully managing low-grade
chondrosarcomas with margins considered less than wide would minimize the need for extensive reconstruction. We report our experience using
cryotherapy as an adjuvant to treat patients with low-grade intracompartmental
chondrosarcomas. Ten consecutive patients had intralesional resections including
curettage, cryo-surgery, and
polymethylmethacrylate application. Eight of these patients required prophylactic skeletal stabilization. We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes for
tumor recurrence,
disease progression, and complications. The Musculo-skeletal
Tumor Society rating scale was used to evaluate functional outcome, and the mean score was 27 points (range, 25-30 points). The mean age of the patients was 54.4 years (range, 29-83 years), and the average followup was 38.5 months (range, 24-60 months). Patients were treated for lesions of the femur (n = 3), humerus (n = 3), scapula (n = 2), tibia (n = 1), and acetabulum (n = 1). There was no evidence of recurrence or
metastases. At the latest followup, all patients were well, however, one patient had hardware loosening. In this small group of patients, intralesional resection with adjuvant
cryoablation provided an alternative to more radical procedures for low-grade intracompartmental
chondrosarcoma.