What are Bone Tumours?

What are Bone Tumours?

 Tumours of the bone can be either benign or
malignant, the malignant variety being more of a challenge to treat.
Furthermore malignant tumours could either be primary tumours of the bone or
secondary deposits from tumours elsewhere in the body. The most common bone tumours
encountered are osteosarcomas and Ewing’s sarcoma. The most common sites of
occurrence are around the knee joint – either distal femur or proximal tibia.
The dramatic change of events from amputation to limb salvage surgeries has
heralded a new hope to these patients who have this form of cancer.

When a person has cancer of the bone,
surgery forms a part of the treatment. Formerly if the malignant Tumour was in
the limbs, surgery meant amputation of the limb. The entire limb or part of it
would be removed. This led to marked disability and disfigurement. The person
also had to suffer social stigma. In order to overcome the functional,
psychological and social problems associated with amputation, the concept of
limb salvage was evolved. Here, despite the surgery and removal of the Tumour,
the limb is spared.

The aim of limb salvage surgery in bone
Tumour management is to eradicate the disease, retain the integrity of the
skeletal system and preserve a limb with useful function.

Successful limb sparing procedures consists of three phases:

1. Bone resection: After making an
   accurate assessment of the stage and spread of the Tumour the surgeon removes
   the affected part of the bone.
2. Reconstruction: The second
   phase of the procedure involves replacing the missing part of the patient’s
   body. Prosthesis or implants are made of steel or titanium.
3. Plastic surgery: This is
   performed to cover the area with muscle and soft tissues.

Then customized mega prostheses are tailor
made for each patient. They conform to each and every patient and fit him or
her perfectly.

The prosthesis is fitted only when the
surgeon feels that the disease can be controlled by removing only one portion
of the bone and not the whole limb; using an implant will give the person more
comfort than removing the hand or leg and fitting with an artificial limb. A
patient may or may not be able to get the full use of the limb, but a certain
amount of functionality can be restored. The main advantage will be that the
cancer would be treated without major disability.