termsTerm
Limb-salvage surgery
aka limb-salvage, limb salvage, limb-sparing surgery, endoprosthetic reconstruction
Removing a bone or soft-tissue sarcoma while keeping the arm or leg, rebuilding the bone with a metal endoprosthesis or a graft.
Rosenberg's NCI trial and the arrival of effective chemotherapy made limb salvage standard for osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma in the 1980s, with survival equal to amputation. Wide margins are still required; radiotherapy adds local control for soft-tissue sarcomas. Growing endoprostheses for children, computer-navigated resection and 3D-printed implants are current refinements; infection and mechanical failure of the prosthesis are the long-term problems.
Category
Procedures