Limb salvage surgery for calcaneal chondrosarcoma: A case report

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic oncology
• Surgical reconstruction
• Bone tumor treatment

Background:

• Calcaneal sarcomas present surgical challenges due to poor compartmentalization.
• Below-knee amputation is the standard treatment, but limb salvage options are being explored.
• This study evaluates calcaneal reconstruction with cement and in situ replantation after tumor inactivation.

Observation:

• A 73-year-old male with a 3-year history of foot pain and a growing neoplasm was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma.
• The patient underwent total calcanectomy, tumor inactivation, and reconstruction with bone cement.
• The Achilles tendon was detached and reattached during the procedure.

Findings:

• No intraoperative or postoperative adverse events were reported.
• At 29 months follow-up, the patient experienced no pain, limp, or functional limitation.
• Radiographic evaluation, weight-bearing tests, and Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scores indicated a satisfactory outcome.

Implications:

• Calcaneal reconstruction with bone cement following tumor inactivation and in situ replantation is a feasible surgical approach.
• This limb-sparing technique can achieve satisfactory functional results for patients with calcaneal chondrosarcoma.
• Further research may establish this method as a preferred alternative to amputation.