Early results of lower limb surgery for osteogenic sarcoma of bone.

Little information is available in the literature about early follow up of patients undergoing surgical procedures for osteogenic sarcoma of lower limbs as a part of their treatment protocol. In the present study the authors evaluate the functional and subjective condition of patients during a 2-year postoperative period, and analyze the nature and frequency of complications arising during that period. A scoring system was designed to represent the functional condition of the patients; compiled scores could therefore account for a given trend, which was further submitted to statistical analysis. Nature and frequency of complications following surgery were related to tumor location and to performed surgical procedures. Results of the study show that during the first 6 postoperative months, most patients have poor functional and subjective condition, which progressively improves throughout the first and second year. There is a high rate of complications during this period (46%), most frequently related to proximal femur and proximal tibia sites. Complications and functional disabilities are mainly related to mechanical disfunction of the reconstructive systems currently used.