[Transcutaneous osseointegrated prostheses systems (TOPS) for rehabilitation following limb loss : Surgical approach for necessary removal of the implant].

Objective: Removal of a transcutaneous osseintegrated endo-fix stem (ESKA Orthopaedic, Lübeck, Germany) following a fatigue fracture of the implant, whilst protecting the residual femur bone to allow transcutaneous osseointegrated prosthesis system (TOPS) reimplantation.

Indications: A patient's request for a further TOPS implantation following a fatigue fracture of a circular osseointegrated implant stem.

Contraindications: Impending destruction of the bone tube through mobilisation of the femoral implant stem with insufficient thickness of the cortical wall (< 2-3 mm). This fact has to be considered before providing the indication for implant replacement.

Surgical technique: A fatigue fracture of a circular osseointegrated implant stem is generally associated with difficult removal of the implant. The longitudinal osteotomy of the tubular femur would lead to massive destruction of the bone due to the osseointegration of the corticalis into the three-dimensional structured surface of the implant and must be excluded as an option for removal. Therefore, the implant must be mobilized from the distal end of the bone. For this approach, tubular cutters and shock wave chisels are available. The procedure itself is time-consuming and is accompanied by a weakening of the corticalis of the femur bone. Intraoperative smear tests to prove a bacteria-free intramedullary space are obligatory.

Postoperative management: After successful removal of an endo-fix stem, reassembling of a new TOPS implant should be considered 4-6 weeks later after ensuring the absence of bacterial colonization of the intramedullary space. If bacteria are detected, surgical revision is necessary.

Results: The authors experience with the described removal of the implant with 4 patients over a period of 17 years must be regarded as anecdotal. All 4 patients could be successfully re-implanted, which emphasizes the value of the described method.