Follow up after Limb salvage surgery for malignant and locally aggressive tumours around the knee joint - Case series from a tertiary Orthopaedic center

Limb salvage surgery for malignant bone tumours has been the mainstay of treatment as it has a better physiological and functional benefit over traditional amputation , thereby improving the quality of life. Thirty two patients who underwent endoprosthetic reconstruction for malignant tumours and locally aggressive benign tumours around the knee joint, in our centre, between July 2009 to June 2012 , were retrospectively analysed. The average age of the patients studied was 28.5 years, with osteosarcoma as the predominant type, femur being commonly involved compared to tibia and fibula. Lung metastasis was observed in 6 patients, local recurrence occurred in 2 patients, amputation was performed in 4 patients, resuturing for 4 patients and revision of Megaprosthesis was performed in 3 patients. Prevention and treatment of post operative complications will definitely yield good long term results , in terms of survival and functional status of the patients.