Fig. 2

Schema of surgical procedure of tumor-devitalised autograft treated with liquid nitrogen. Free freezing: Tumor of the distal femur is excised by epiphysis-preserved intercalary osteotomy. After freezing in liquid nitrogen for 20 min, osteosynthesis using plates, screws is performed (a). Pedicle freezing: Tumor of the proximal tibia is excised by one- site osteotomy, proximal part of tumor is elevated and the intramedullary canal which contains the tumor, is subsequently curetted. The isolated bony specimen is carefully rotated and put in a liquid nitrogen for 20 min. Osteosynthesis using plate, screws is performed (b)