Quality of life following limb-salvage surgery for bone sarcomas

Abstract

Limb-salvage surgery and reconstruction of bone defects is challenging in orthopedic oncology. Evaluation and improvement of the quality of life in these patients is difficult. Currently available metrics of function include clinical measures such as range of motion and muscle strength, measures of activities of daily living, scales that combine both clinical measures and activities of daily living, the original and the revised version of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Rating Scale, which includes symptoms, mobility and use of assistive devices, generic health status measures such as the Sickness Impact Profile, and the Reintegration to Normal Living, a measure of handicap. Most bone sarcoma survivors manage well; they are able to work and have an overall good quality of life, having adjusted to their physical limitations. To enhance the literature, we summarize the results of previous studies reporting on the quality of life after limb-salvage surgery of the upper and lower limb, discuss the complications and outcomes, and present our long-term experience and future view.

Keywords::

• bone tumors
• limb-salvage surgery
• quality of life

Ethical board review statement

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the reporting of these cases and that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research. Informed patient consent was obtained for all study patients at the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli and at the First Department of Orthopaedics in the Athens University Medical School.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations, personal or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patterns received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.