The UCLA experience in limb salvage surgery for malignant tumors

Between December 1980 and January 1985, 95 patients with 98 malignant bone tumors were treated at UCLA by a multidisciplinary approach. Seventy-eight patients with 81 lesions underwent primary limb salvage procedures utilizing 66 custom endoprostheses and, in 15 instances, soft tissue reconstruction alone. Sixty-three of 78 (80.7%) underwent successful limb salvage without complication. The 22 local complications in 15 patients (19.2%) were all successfully managed either by surgical or nonoperative techniques salvaging all 15 extremities at risk. Seventeen patients underwent primary amputation for local control of their tumor. The local recurrence rate of 6.4% in the limb salvage group is comparable to the 5.8% found in the amputation group. The selection of patients for limb salvage did not adversely prejudice these patients in terms of rates of progression or ultimate survivorship. The cosmetic and functional results of limb sparing surgery is felt to be at least comparable with that obtained by primary amputation and the use of external prostheses.