Functional results in patients with sarcoma around the knee joint

Authors evaluated functional outcomes after three different surgical procedures for sarcoma around the knee joint. Sixteen patients with sarcoma were given four to six preoperative courses of chemotherapy. Patients were separated into three groups according to the pattern of tumour excision. The first group underwent the resection of proximal fibula and tibialis anterior muscle resection, the second group underwent resection of distal femur or proximal tibia with total knee replacement, and the third group underwent radical amputation. The mean functional evaluations were 100, 95 and 80%. All marginal resections of proximal fibula resulted in excellent function. No local evidence of tumour recurrence was seen at mean follow-up of 24 months (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 7).