MALIGNANT BONE-TUMORS

Owing to advances in adjuvant therapy, the outlook for patients with p rimary malignant bone tumors has improved dramatically in recent decad es. This applies both to improved survival and to increased limb salva ge rates. The diagnostic strategies and a staging system for malignant bone tumors are outlined. Technical aspects of the standard limb salv age procedures, such as Tikhoff-Linberg resection at the shoulder, int ernal hemipelvectomy, proximal and distal femur resection and rotation plasty are presented. The use of soft tissue procedures such as flaps and the use of modular implant systems has reduced the complication r ates of limb salvage procedures. In the future we hope to further impr ove prognosis and quality of life for such patients by the application of risk-adapted strategies for chemotherapy and surgery.