Psychological outcome of extremity sarcoma survivors undergoing amputation or limb salvage

When compared to amputation, limb salvage procedures for extremity sarcomas have been advocated because of potential functional benefits and presumed psychological-outcome advantages. The purpose of this study was to compare psychological outcomes between survivors who underwent either amputation or limb salvage procedures for extremity sarcomas. Fifteen amputees and 20 patients with salvaged limbs (mean age, 37.9 years; range, 15 to 71 years) were evaluated 1 to 5 years after surgery for extremity sarcomas. Demographic and medical information was obtained and cognitive functioning, affect, mood, body image, physical functioning, global psychological adjustment to illness and surgery, and lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders before and after surgery were assessed. Two patients were excluded because of the presence of an incapacitating organic mental syndrome. The remaining patients, 14 amputees and 19 patients with salvaged limbs, had a variety of soft-tissue and bone sarcomas. No significant differences were found between the groups in age, sex, marital status, surgically involved extremity, chemotherapy status, and social class at the time of surgery and interviews. There were no significant differences between the groups in scores of cognitive capacity, symptoms, mood, body image changes, global physical functioning, global adjustment to illness and surgery, and lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders before or after surgery. Most patients revealed only mild psychological symptoms and 55% demonstrated good to excellent adjustment to their surgeries and diseases. There were no significant differences in measures of psychological outcome for patients with extremity sarcomas who underwent limb salvage procedures compared to those who underwent amputation. A psychological-outcome advantage of limb-salvage surgery compared to amputation has yet to be demonstrated.