Does osteosarcoma require amputation?

Written by Wang Cheng Lin

Orthopedics

Updated on August 31, 2024

00:00

00:00

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.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Peng Li Bo

Oncology

41sec

home-news-image

The difference between sarcoma and osteosarcoma

The relationship between sarcoma and osteosarcoma is very simple; it is a relationship of containment where sarcoma includes osteosarcoma. Simply put, the concept of sarcoma is broader, and osteosarcoma is a subtype under it. Sarcoma itself also includes malignant tumors occurring in blood vessels, fat, nerves, and muscles, such as angiosarcoma, liposarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma, and, of course, osteosarcoma. However, both sarcoma and osteosarcoma are malignant tumors, and it's important to clarify this concept. Moreover, osteosarcoma is more common in young people.

home-news-image

Written by Guan Yu Hua

Orthopedic Surgery

1min 14sec

home-news-image

During the treatment of osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a highly malignant tumor of the bone, primarily presenting with pain, elevated skin ridges, and bulging veins. Radiological examination often reveals bone abnormalities, such as Codman's triangle and periosteal reactions due to sun exposure. If there is no metastasis in the early stages, limb amputation surgery can be performed, as well as limb-sparing surgeries involving devitalization and reimplantation or prosthetic implantation. Post-operative treatment involves high-dose chemotherapy, which can inhibit the growth of the bone tumor and extend the patient's survival time. There is a high probability of lung metastasis occurring in the early stages of the disease. If metastasis occurs, the survival time may be significantly reduced. Early diagnosis of this disease is crucial, and it must be treated with chemotherapy as early as possible. With the rapid development of chemotherapy, the five-year survival rate for osteosarcoma can increase to over 50%. Thus, early detection, early treatment, early surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy are essential to prolong the patient's survival time.

home-news-image

Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

56sec

home-news-image

Postoperative recurrence symptoms of osteosarcoma

Symptoms of recurrent osteosarcoma after surgery are generally consistent with the symptoms before the initial surgery. The main symptoms include: Firstly, localized pain, which is persistent, progressive, and does not alleviate, including pain that worsens at night. Secondly, localized swelling, which usually occurs around the surgical site if limb-sparing surgery was performed, or at the stump if amputation was done. Thirdly, the appearance of systemic cachexia and symptoms of metastasis. Systemic cachexia typically includes weight loss, anemia, fatigue, and loss of appetite. For osteosarcoma, metastasis primarily targets the lungs, where numerous cancerous shadows can be detected. Thus, the main recurrent symptoms of osteosarcoma after surgery include pain, swelling, and cachexia.

home-news-image

Written by Wang Cheng Lin

Orthopedics

1min 11sec

home-news-image

Characteristics of bone metastasis in osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma, when it metastasizes to the bone, is very complex to treat. Surgery cannot fully excise the metastasized bone tissue. Currently, clinical treatments mainly involve a comprehensive approach using radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and traditional Chinese medicine. Most osteosarcomas show improvement in symptoms and an increase in patients' quality of life after radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment. However, these treatments have their complications. For instance, while killing tumor cells, they can also damage normal cells, resulting in a decreased immune response and various related complications. Ultimately, this might lead to the cessation of radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments. Therefore, current treatments for bone metastases from osteosarcoma involve using radiotherapy and chemotherapy in conjunction with traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine may enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy while also reducing their toxicity. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

home-news-image

Written by Wang Cheng Lin

Orthopedics

42sec

home-news-image

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.