Musculoskeletal oncology practice in Latin America: Workforce characteristics, resource availability, and territorial disparities

Musculoskeletal oncology requires highly specialized, multidisciplinary care. Although the subspecialty has evolved worldwide, information on workforce characteristics, resource availability, and practice patterns across Latin America remains limited.

A cross-sectional survey using convenience sampling was conducted among orthopaedic surgeons involved in musculoskeletal oncology throughout Latin America. An adapted version of a previously published questionnaire was distributed through the Latin American Society of Musculoskeletal Tumors (SLATME) and professional networks. The survey explored training background, clinical practice characteristics, perceived support from selected specialties and specialized resources, perceived professional challenges, and treatment preferences. We performed descriptive analyses and comparisons by practice-location population size (< 1 million versus ≥ 1 million inhabitants).

A total of 147 surgeons from 17 countries participated. Most respondents reported formal orthopaedic oncology training (76%) and academic orteaching involvement (93%). Respondents practicing in locations with ≥ one million inhabitants were significantly more likely to report treating ≥ 30 cases annually of soft tissue sarcoma (47% vs. 14%, p < 0.001), metastatic bone disease (73% vs. 40%, p < 0.001), and primary bone sarcoma (29% vs. 9%, p = 0.013). Access to molecular genetic testing, bone banks and allografts, and tumour reconstruction prostheses was also significantly greater in larger population centers, whereas access to MRI, radiotherapy, and intensive care did not differ significantly between groups.

Among survey respondents, musculoskeletal oncology practice in Latin America was characterized by high rates of specialized training and academic or teaching involvement. However, differences in the reported annual numbers of new malignant tumour cases treated and in access to advanced resources were observed according to practice-location population size. Because this study used a convenience sampling strategy, these findings reflect the respondents' practices but should not be generalized to the entire Latin American musculoskeletal oncology community.