Function and complications after ablative and limb-salvage therapy in lower extremity sarcoma of bone.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The functional results and the complications after several limb-saving and ablative treatments because of lower extremity bone sarcoma were evaluated.

METHODS: Seventy-seven surviving patients were evaluated according to the MSTS (American Musculoskeletal Tumor Society) functional rating system. Fifty-two patients had limb-saving and 25 had ablative therapy. Median follow-up was 97 months in the limb-saving group and 112 months in the ablative group.

RESULTS: Functional results in the limb-saving group were significantly better than in the ablative group (P = 0.0001). Functional results in patients with tumors about the knee joint were significantly better (P = 0.0064) after limb-saving surgery (i.e., endoprosthesis, knee arthrodesis, or rotationplasty) compared to functional results after ablative surgery (i.e., hip or knee disarticulation or above-the-knee amputation). Complications were 3 times more common after limb-salvage procedures and 4 times more common after endoprosthetic reconstructions compared to after ablative procedures. Complications after limb-saving therapy were fewest in tumors about the knee joint. In 3/28 patients, the endoprosthetic reconstruction had to be converted to an amputation.

CONCLUSIONS: Functional results were significantly better after limb-saving compared to after ablative therapy. Complications, however, were more common after limb-saving therapy.