Function Following Limb Salvage Procedures For Bone Sarcoma

Bone sarcomas are the fourth most common cancer in individuals under 25 years. Osteosarcoma is the most common form of sarcoma in this population, with distal femur the most common tumour location. Before chemotherapy protocols were instituted, a 20% overall survival with limb amputation was quoted, however with chemotherapy and limb salvage or limb preservation surgery that figure has improved dramatically to 60-75% at five years. This paper looks at the functional outcome of limb salvage surgery around the knee. It shows that after a tumour resection with prosthetic reconstruction, the oxygen demands on the body are significantly raised by muscular co-contraction activity in both legs as an adaptive gait.