Surgery for MSK tumors: 1971-2011

Since 1971 surgical management of musculoskeletal tumors has changed dramatically. In 1971 less than one-fourth of patients with a malignant tumor had limb salvage surgery, the remainder having an amputation. Amputations were also sometimes done for recurrent benign tumors. Since then amputation has become unusual for malignant disease and is virtually never done for benign tumors. The changes have been made possible because of advances in anesthesiology, surgery, radiology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology.