BackgroundOsteosarcoma is the most common malignant primary bone tumour in young adult treated by neo adjuvant chemotherapy, surgical tumor removal and adjuvant multidrug chemotherapy. For correction of soft tissue defect consecutive to surgery and/or tumor treatment, autologous fat graft has been proposed in plastic and reconstructive surgery.Principal FindingsWe report here a case of a late local recurrence of osteosarcoma which occurred 13 years after the initial pathology and 18 months after a lipofilling procedure. Because such recurrence was highly unexpected, we investigated the possible relationship of tumor growth with fat injections and with mesenchymal stem/stromal cell like cells which are largely found in fatty tissue. Results obtained in osteosarcoma pre-clinical models show that fat grafts or progenitor cells promoted tumor growth.SignificanceThese observations and results raise the question of whether autologous fat grafting is a safe reconstructive procedure in a known post neoplasic context.

From 2004 to 2007, 148 limb free flaps were performed in a series of 138 patients at the University Hospital in Nantes, France. Flaps were successful in 127 instances (rate: 86%; group A) and failed in 21 (group B). An analysis of the various factors (pre-, intra-, and postoperative) in both groups that may have influenced the outcome of surgery identified the following: operating time, cold ischemia time, and the interval before reoperation. This report is based on our experience in managing 21 free flap failures during reconstructive surgery of the limbs. The causes of failure were analyzed, and possible therapeutic strategies defined (i.e., a second free flap procedure, a pedicle flap, coverage with artificial dermis, or amputation). In our opinion, careful analysis of the causes of flap failure is essential to an appropriate choice of subsequent therapeutic strategy.

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