Does osteosarcoma require amputation?

Written by Wang Cheng Lin

Orthopedics

Updated on August 31, 2024

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Do osteosarcomas require amputation? In the past, the likelihood of amputation for treating osteosarcoma was very high. However, currently, the rate of amputation is very low, and the limb-salvage rate is very high. This is due to a new chemotherapy protocol in medical practice, which involves initial chemotherapy followed by surgery, and then continued chemotherapy post-operatively. The limb-salvage rate with this treatment plan can reach about 75% to 80%. Therefore, currently, most osteosarcoma patients do not require amputation. Unlike the past, where amputation rates were very high, today's medical approach is very advanced, generally resulting in a very high rate of limb preservation for osteosarcoma patients.

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Written by Cheng Bin

Orthopedics

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Can osteosarcoma be detected on an X-ray?

First of all, it should be noted that osteosarcoma can be detected in patients through imaging tests. For example, a localized MRI can clearly diagnose osteosarcoma. Once detected, it is necessary to actively pursue symptomatic treatment. Surgical removal is usually the main treatment method, involving the excision of the affected area. If necessary, the excision may need to be extended, or amputation may be required. After surgery, the excised specimen should be sent for pathological examination. Based on the results of the pathology test, further radiation therapy or chemotherapy can be completely sufficient. The results are generally quite good for most patients.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin

Orthopedics

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Will osteosarcoma cause the skin to turn red?

Patients with osteosarcoma will not have red skin. The early symptoms of osteosarcoma are generally not obvious, primarily involving localized swelling, with pain around the joints leading to limited joint mobility. As the condition progresses, this pain may shift from intermittent to constant, and the severity of the pain will increase as the disease worsens. The second patient will exhibit a noticeable lump that can be felt; this lump is usually accompanied by significant tenderness. The third symptom is intermittent limping, caused by pain from the tumor during walking, which prevents the patient from bearing weight for extended periods. The fourth aspect involves systemic symptoms common to patients with tumors, such as anemia, mild fever, and even pathological fractures.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin

Orthopedics

42sec

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What is the metastatic pathway of osteosarcoma?

Osteosarcoma commonly spreads in three ways. The first is through hematogenous dissemination, meaning that tumor cells spread throughout the body via the bloodstream, a process known as hematogenous spread. The second method is called implantation metastasis, where tumor cells directly implant in the common sites of osteosarcoma, leading to localized disease. The third type is lymphatic spread, where tumor cells spread to multiple parts of the body through the lymphatic system, causing new tumor growth. These three pathways are the most common routes of metastasis seen clinically in osteosarcoma, with hematogenous spread being the most frequent.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 25sec

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Can osteosarcoma occur on the knee?

Can osteosarcomas grow on the knee? In fact, the locations where osteosarcomas commonly appear are indeed near the knee. There are mainly three common sites: the most prevalent is the distal end of the femur, the lower part of the thigh bone. The second most common site is the proximal end of the tibia. The third is the proximal end of the humerus. Therefore, osteosarcomas usually do grow near the knee. What are the symptoms of an osteosarcoma? The symptoms of osteosarcoma include, first, localized pain, which is a constant pain that persists, worsens, and does not alleviate, often causing night pain, and many patients do not feel pain during the day, only at night. The second symptom is a localized lump, generally spindle-shaped, with an increased skin temperature over the surface, and even distended veins due to the tumor restricting nearby joint movement. The third symptom is the appearance of cachexia or wasting syndrome throughout the body. The fourth point is that the growth of the osteosarcoma leads to erosion of the bone and eventually pathologic fractures. Thus, the likelihood of osteosarcomas appearing near the knee is very high, and many patients typically come to the hospital because of painful lumps near the knee, and then, after examination, the diagnosis is confirmed.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao

Orthopedics

50sec

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How to alleviate the pain of osteosarcoma?

Pain in osteosarcoma patients is mostly caused by the cancer invading local bone tissue and other tissues, leading to pain, tenderness, and even sleeplessness. Therefore, the pain management follows a certain hierarchy, starting with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, followed by weak opioids, and finally strong opioids such as morphine. However, this only alleviates the pain and does not help with treatment. For early-stage osteosarcoma patients, pain management primarily involves surgery when necessary. For advanced-stage patients, it involves gradually increasing the dose of effective pain-relief medications to alleviate temporary pain. (Controlled drugs must be strictly used under the supervision of relevant physicians.)