Unregistered User If this is not your name, click here.
		Contact Us | Order Now | Journals | Bookstore | Register a colleague
	Select a ChannelAcneAIDS and HIVAllergy OtherAlzheimer'sAnaesthesiology OtherAngina Pectoris/MIAnxietyArthritis OtherAsthmaBack PainBacterial InfectionsBladder CancerBone Marrow TransplantationBreast CancerCardiology OtherCataractCell TransplantationCervical CancerCholesterol/Lipid disordersCirrhosisClinical PharmacologyColorectal CancerCongestive Heart FailureContact DermatitisContraceptionCOPDCystic FibrosisDental and Oral DisordersDepressionDermatology OtherDiabetesDialysisEating DisordersElbowEmergency MedicineEndocrinology OtherEpilepsyErectile DysfunctionFibromyalgiaGastro OtherGeneticsGenitourinary OtherGeriatricsGERD/GastritisGlaucomaH. Pylori/UlcerHaematology OtherHair LossHeadachesHepa/Biliary OtherHepatitisHipHRTHypertensionIBDImmunologyInfectious OtherInfertilityIntensive CareIrritable Bowel SyndromeKneeLeukemiasLiver CancerLung CancerLupusLymphomasMelanomaMenopauseMultiple Sclerosis Nephrology OtherNeurologic OtherNutritional / Metabolic OtherOb/Gyn OtherObesityOncology OtherOphth. OtherOphthalmic SurgeryOrgan TransplantationOrthopaedics OtherOsteoarthritisOsteoporosisOtitisOtorhino. OtherOvarian CancerPaediatricsPainPancreatic CancerParkinson'sPregnancyProstate CancerPsychiatry OtherPulmonary OtherRadiologyRenal CancerRenal FailureRespiratory InfectionsRheumatoid arthritisRheumatology OtherRhinitisSchizophreniaShoulderSleep ApnoeaSleep DisordersSpineStrokeSTDsSurgeryThyroid DisordersTransfusionTransplant Surgery OtherTraumaUrinary IncontinenceUrinary tract infectionsVaccinologyVascular DisordersViral Infections

SEARCH   News Bookstore Medline The Web Meetings & Congresses Complete Doctor's Guide    EXPLORE :    All News   All Webcasts   All Cases   All Meetings & Congresses   All Medical Resources New drugs / indications English Dictionary Medical Dictionary Thesaurus Warning | Privacy | Awards  Favourite Journals  Click here to choose your favourite journals  Favourite Sites  Click here to choose your favourite sites  Languages  Select languageEnglishFrançais

Limb-Sparing Surgery May Not Be Best Option for Lower Limb Bone Sarcomas ATLANTA -- August 10, 2009 -- Limb-sparing surgery, which has been taking the place of amputation for bone and soft tissue sarcomas of the lower limb in recent years, may not provide much or even any additional benefit to certain patients, according to an analysis published in the September 15 issue of Cancer. The review indicates that patients and physicians should rethink the pros and cons of limb-sparing surgery and amputation. To compare the costs and benefits of amputation compared with limb-sparing surgery in patients, Ronald Barr, MD, McMaster University and Jay Wunder, MD, Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, reviewed all published papers on limb-sparing surgery that also measured patients' functional health and quality of life. The review found that while limb-sparing surgery is generally as effective as amputation in ridding the patient of cancer, it tends to be associated with more early and late complications. Surprisingly, studies also show that, particularly for patients with lower limb bone sarcomas, limb salvage does not provide a better quality of life to patients than amputation. Most studies have found that the differences in disability between amputation and limb-sparing patients are smaller than expected. Many revealed no significant differences in psychological health and quality of life between patients who underwent amputations and those who had limb-sparing surgery. However, there appear to be greater advantages to limb-sparing surgery over amputation for higher surgical sites in the lower limb, such as the hip. The authors said additional research is needed to provide a thorough comparison of amputation and limb-sparing surgery in different types of patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas. "Future studies that include function, health-related quality of life, economics, and stratification of patients by age will be useful contributions to decision-making… by patients, health care providers, and administrators," said Dr. Wunder. SOURCE: American Cancer Society E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version