Limb salvage surgery with vascular reconstruction

Vascular reconstruction and limb salvage surgery has been the authors' preferred approach when malignancy involves major vessels of the extremities. Treatment of 16 patients involved resection, with vascular grafting in 14 patients and rotationplasty in two patients. The major vessels were surrounded by tumor in six patients, nearly encased in three patients, invaded by tumor in four patients, and widely contaminated by intralesional surgery in three patients. The tumor stage included one Stage IB, 12 Stage IIB, two Stage IIIB sarcomas, and one multiply recurrent carcinoma. The largest average tumor dimension was 9.5 cm, and the length of grafting was 14 cm. Major nerves were sacrificed in eight (50%) patients, flaps or muscle transfers were done in seven (44%), chemotherapy was administered in nine (56%), radiation therapy was used in four (25%), and pulmonary metastasectomy was done in two (12%). At a mean followup of 56 months, 50% (eight of 16) of patients were alive without disease. Local recurrence was 12% (two of 16 patients), and infection was 12% (two of 16 patients). Limb salvage was achieved in 88% (14 of 16 patients), and functional status was judged good or excellent in 81% (13 of 16 patients). The complication rate observed in this subset of patients is significant, yet local control and the incidence of major complications was acceptable. Results observed from this series and data gathered from the literature clearly indicate that patients can avoid amputation, despite malignant involvement of major vessels to their extremities.     

Limb salvage surgery

The threat of lower limb loss is seen commonly in severe crush injury, cancer ablation, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease and neuropathy. The primary goal of limb salvage is to restore and maintain stability and ambulation. Reconstructive strategies differ in each condition such as: Meticulous debridement and early coverage in trauma, replacing lost functional units in cancer ablation, improving vascularity in ischaemic leg and providing stable walking surface for trophic ulcer. The decision to salvage the critically injured limb is multifactorial and should be individualised along with laid down definitive indications. Early cover remains the standard of care, delayed wound coverage not necessarily affect the final outcome. Limb salvage is more cost-effective than amputations in a long run. Limb salvage is the choice of procedure over amputation in 95% of limb sarcoma without affecting the survival. Compound flaps with different tissue components, skeletal reconstruction; tendon transfer/reconstruction helps to restore function. Adjuvant radiation alters tissue characters and calls for modification in reconstructive plan. Neuropathic ulcers are wide and deep often complicated by osteomyelitis. Free flap reconstruction aids in faster healing and provides superior surface for offloading. Diabetic wounds are primarily due to neuropathy and leads to six-fold increase in ulcerations. Control of infections, aggressive debridement and vascular cover are the mainstay of management. Endovascular procedures are gaining importance and have reduced extent of surgery and increased amputation free survival period. Though the standard approach remains utilising best option in the reconstruction ladder, the recent trend shows running down the ladder of reconstruction with newer reliable local flaps and negative wound pressure therapy.KEY WORDS: Limb salvage, limb trauma, lower limb reconstruction, foot ulcers     

Prognosis of critical limb ischemia: Major vs. minor amputation comparison

Healthcare providers treating wounds have difficulties assessing the prognosis of patients with critical limb ischemia who had been discharged after complete healing of major amputation wounds. The word “major” in “major amputation” gives the impression of “being more severe” than “minor amputation.” Therefore, even if wounds are healed after major amputation, they imagine that prognosis after major amputation would be poorer than that after minor amputation. We investigated the prognosis of diabetic nephropathy patients 2 years after amputations. Those patients underwent dialysis as well as amputation following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for their foot wounds. They were ambulatory prior to these surgeries. Among 56 cases of minor amputation, 45 were males and 11 were females, and mortality was 41.1%. The mortality of cases with and without a coronary intervention history was 53.1% and 25.0%, respectively (p = 0.034). Among 10 cases of major amputation, 9 were males and 1 was female, and mortality was 60%. The mortality of cases with and without a coronary intervention history was 75.0% and 0%, respectively. Although we predicted poor prognosis in cases with major amputation, there was no significant difference in mortality 2 years after amputations (p = 0.267). Thus far poor prognosis has been reported for major amputation. It might be due to inclusion of the following patients: patients with wounds proximal to ankle joints, patients with extensive gangrene spreading to the lower legs, patients with septicemia from wound infection and who died around the time of operation, and patients with malnutrition. The results of our present study showed that the outcomes at 2 years postoperatively were similar between patients with major amputations and those with minor amputations, if surgical wounds were able to heal. We should not estimate the prognosis by the level of amputation, rather we should consider the effect of coronary intervention history on prognosis.     

Limb salvage procedures for children with osteosarcoma: an alternative to amputation

Amputation remains the standard surgical management for patients with osteosarcoma. However, in carefully selected patients, eradication of the primary tumor can be achieved by En-Bloc resection of the affected bone preserving both anatomical and functional status. Our criteria for limb salvage procedures are that patients must: (1) be age 12 years or older, (2) have no angiographic or clinical evidence of neurovascular involvement, (3) have low-grade osteosarcoma and/or good response to preoperative chemotherapy, and (4) be compliant. Between November 1980 and October 1982, 32 patients with osteosarcoma of an extremity were seen. Eight patients ranging in age from 13 to 21 years underwent limb salvage procedures. Five of these had Tikhoff-Linberg procedures for upper extremity lesions, two had En-Bloc resections for distal femur lesions, and one patient had a segmental arthrodesis for a distal tibial lesion. Of these eight patients, two had low-grade parosteal osteosarcoma. Follow-up ranged from 10 to 28 months (median 16 months). The two patients with parosteal osteosarcoma received no further therapy, while the other six patients received multiple agent chemotherapy. One patient died at 18 months with bilateral pulmonary disease. None have had local recurrences. Two of the eight patients had minor skin necrosis, requiring revision subsequently. Three patients have had transient nerve palsy. All have had good functional results. With careful selection of patients by rigid criteria, limb salvage procedures can be a viable alternative to amputation.     

Limb salvage versus amputation. Preliminary results of the Mangled Extremity Severity Score

Objective criteria can predict amputation after lower-extremity trauma. The authors examined the hypothesis that objective data, available early in the evaluation of patients with severe skeletal/soft-tissue injuries of the lower extremity with vascular compromise, might discriminate the salvageable from the unsalvageable limbs. The Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS) was developed by reviewing 25 trauma victims with 26 severe lower-extremity open fractures with vascular compromise. The four significant criteria (with increasing points for worsening prognosis) were skeletal/soft-tissue injury, limb ischemia, shock, and patient age. (There was a significant difference in the mean MESS scores; 4.88 in 17 limbs salvaged and 9.11 in nine limbs amputated; p less than 0.01). This scoring system was then prospectively evaluated in 26 lower-extremity open fractures with vascular injury over a 12-month period at two trauma centers. Again, there was a significant difference in the mean MESS scores; 4.00 for the 14 salvaged limbs and 8.83 for the 12 amputated limbs (p less than 0.01). In both the prospective and retrospective studies, a MESS score of greater than or equal to 7 had a 100% predictable value for amputation. This relatively simple, readily available scoring system of objective criteria was highly accurate in acutely discriminating between limbs that were salvageable and those that were unsalvageable and better managed by primary amputation.     

Limb salvage surgery for pathological fractures in osteosarcoma

The local treatment of pathological fracture in patients with a primary osteosarcoma remains controversial. In this paper we report the oncological outcome of the treatment of pathological fractures in 18 patients suffering from this disease. There were ten male and eight female patients, and the average age at diagnosis was 17 years. All patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Wide resections were performed in 17, but in one there was 'contamination' of the margins of the excision. Skeletal reconstruction was performed with a locally designed and manufactured custom 'mega' prosthesis. The average follow-up was 33 months (range: 12-93 months), and 14 patients were alive on completion of the study. Local recurrence appeared in two patients, while three developed pulmonary metastases.     

Limb salvage in pediatric surgery. The use of the expandable prosthesis

Limb sparing in growing children has proved to be very effective from an oncologic perspective, with good, long-term acceptance by the patients. As in the adult, when performed by experienced surgeons, limb sparing neither compromises the survival rate nor significantly increases the local recurrence rate, compared with cross-bone amputation. Discussions include patient evaluation, surgical options, materials and methods, and results.     

骨肉瘤保肢与截肢疗法(附31例分析)

作者对３１例分别接受保肢或截肢疗法的骨肉瘤患者的随访结果进行了总结和分析。３１例患者中，９例施行广泛切除，８例施行边缘切除，１４例施行截肢手术，部分患者接受了以大剂量氨甲喋呤、顺铂、阿霉素为主的化疗。结果表明，配合化疗的广泛性切除组，患者的生存率和保肢率明显高于边缘切除组和截肢组；接受假体置换并获长期生存的患者，假体使用寿命长，大多数功能满意。作者认为，在骨肉瘤的保肢疗法中，化疗与根治性广泛切除术均属十分重要。对于符合适应证的患者，在配合化疗的基础上行肿瘤广泛性切除保肢疗法，可提高患者的生存率及生活质量。     

骨肉瘤保肢与截肢疗法

作者对３１例分别接受保肢或截肢疗法从瘤患者的随访结果进行了总结和分析。３１例患者中,９例施行广泛切除,８例施行边缘切除,１４例施行截肢手术,部分患者接受了以大剂量氨甲喋呤顺铂、阿霉素为主的化疗。结果表明,配合化疗的广泛性切除组,患者的生存率和保肢率明显高于边缘切除组和截肢组,接受假体置换并获长期生存的患者,假体使用寿命长,大多数功能满意。作者认为,在骨肉瘤的保肢疗法中,化疗与根治性广泛切除术均属十     

Limb salvage versus traumatic amputation. A decision based on a seven-part predictive index.

In severe traumatic injuries to the lower extremity, it is often a difficult decision to attempt heroic efforts aimed at limb salvage or to amputate primarily. To answer this question, the authors performed a 5-year review of 70 limbs in 67 patients. Patients were identified as presenting with major lower extremity trauma and an associated arterial injury. Nineteen (27%) of the 70 limbs were amputated. Limb salvage was not related to the presence or absence of shock and order of repair (orthopedic or vascular). No statistical difference was noted between the time of injury to operative repair in either the amputated or limb salvage group. Limb salvage was related to warm ischemia time and the quantitative degree of arterial, nerve, bone, muscle, skin, and venous injury. A limb salvage index (LSI) was formulated based on the degree of injury to these systems. All 51 patients with an LSI score of less than 6 had successful limb salvage (p less than 0.001). All 19 patients with an LSI score of 6 or greater had amputations (p less than 0.001). Although statistics cannot replace clinical judgment, this index can be a valuable objective tool in the evaluation of the patient with a severely traumatized extremity.     

儿童青少年期骨肉瘤保肢治疗

由于新辅助化疗的应用提高了骨肉瘤患者5年生存率,保肢治疗成为外科治疗的主流。保留骨骺之保肢术可保留儿童青少年患儿生长板,有效防止术后肢体不等长,但前提必须是骨骺未受侵犯且肿瘤可完整切除;可延长假体可解决儿童患者保肢后肢体不等长问题;带血管蒂骨移植为骨肉瘤瘤段切除后骨缺损修复提供了早日愈合基础;对骨骺接近闭合患儿,也可考虑应用同种异体骨移植修复骨缺损;肿瘤型假体关节也可用于年长惠儿保肢治疗;对预计骨骺快要闭合的青少年患者,传统假肢、带血管蒂游离腓骨移植及畀体骨移植也可作为选择。儿童青少年期骨肉瘤保肢治疗,目前面临着可延长假体、保留骨骺保肢术费用昂贵、技术复杂等问题。     

保留骨骺的保肢手术临床研究

目的 介绍儿童及青少年保留骨骺的保肢手术方法，并讨论肿瘤复发率、转移情况及术后并发症与关节功能。方法1995年12月至2003年1月，对33例儿童及青少年肢体原发性恶性或侵袭性骨肿瘤进行保留骨骺的保肢手术，年龄8-16岁，平均12．2岁。股骨下端24例，胫骨上端9例；骨肉瘤23例，尤文肉瘤6例，软骨肉瘤2例，侵袭性骨母细胞瘤2例。Enneking外科分期：ⅠA期2例，ⅠB期2例，ⅡA期17例，ⅡB期12例。恶性肿瘤患者接受术前2-4个周期、术后6个周期的化疗。采用大段同种异体骨移植重建骨缺损，并用松质骨拉力螺钉将其与骨骺进行固定。结果29例患者随访资料完整。随访时间12～72个月，平均37．6个月。3例复发，分别于术后1年在骨骺处复发、术后15个月和30个月在原肿瘤位置的股动、静脉周围复发，复发率为10．3％。对复发病例行截肢术。共9例死亡，5年生存率为57．9％。4例患者发生5例并发症，发生率为17．2％。依据Enneking术后功能评价标准，优11例，良13例，可3例，差2例，总优良率为82．8％。结论四肢恶性骨肿瘤保留骨骺的保肢手术可以使患者获得较好的肢体功能，在严格掌握手术适应证和有效化疗的前提下，实施该手术是安全的。     

The below-the-knee amputation for vascular disease.

Of 190 consecutive patients with below-the-knee amputation done for diabetic or arteriosclerotic vascular disease, 167 were successfully fitted with a prosthesis and used the prosthesis in some or all of the activities of daily living. The surgical failure rate was 4.2 per cent; only eight patients required surgical revision to a higher level of amputation. The technique of rigid plaster dressing followed by delayed application of a plaster cast and pylon was not detrimental to wound healing and did not increase the interval between surgery and the use of the prosthesis, nor did it depress the eventual level of function. When compared with our own previous experience with other flaps, the long posterior flap offered a significant advantage in healing rate.     

Current status of heroic limb salvage for critical limb ischemia

The treatment of chronic lower extremity peripheral arterial disease is in a state of flux. During the past decade, vascular surgeons have assumed the responsibility for the endovascular care of patients needing vascular intervention. Once surgeons began performing these procedures, a change in attitude toward angioplasty resulted in an "endovascular explosion" and an overall reassessment of the traditional approaches to critical limb ischemia. Our current method of assessing outcomes is also in a state of flux. The original measure of procedural success, reconstruction patency, has been found to be a poor predictor of both patient palliation and functional success. A shift toward determining more accurate, patient-oriented outcome measures is ongoing. Until then, evidence would suggest that there are patients with such severe medical comorbidities, which include impaired ambulatory ability at presentation, that the benefits of revascularization seem to be insignificant. As our patient population ages and our healthcare system continues to fail financially, economic rationing motivated by lack of evidence-based data to the contrary may dictate that these patients are best served by primary limb amputation.     

A comparison of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty versus amputation for critical limb ischemia in patients unsuitable for open surgery

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), although not the traditional therapy, seems to be a safe alternative for patients with critical limb ischemia who are believed to be unsuitable candidates for open surgery. However, the efficacy of PTA in this setting has not been analyzed. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of PTA for limb salvage with outcomes of major limb amputation in physiologically impaired patients believed to be unsuitable for open surgery. METHODS: From a prospective vascular registry, 314 patients (183 underwent amputation, and 131 underwent complex PTA for limb salvage) were identified as physiologically impaired or unsuitable for open surgery. This was defined as having at least one of the following: functional impairment (homebound ambulatory or transfer only), mental impairment (dementia), or medical impairment (two of the following: end-stage renal disease, coronary artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Patients undergoing PTA were compared with patients undergoing amputation by examining the outcome parameters of survival, maintenance of ambulation, and maintenance of independent living status. Parameters were assessed by using Kaplan-Meier life-table curves (log-rank test and 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) and hazard ratios (HRs) from the Cox model. RESULTS: PTA resulted in a 12-month limb salvage rate of 63%. Thirty-day mortality was 4.4% for the amputation group and 3.8% for the PTA group. After adjustment for age, race, diabetes, prior vascular procedure, dementia, and baseline functional status, PTA patients had significantly lower rates of ambulation failure (HR, 0.44; P = .0002) and loss of independence (HR, 0.53; P = .025) but had significantly higher mortality (HR, 1.62; P = .006) than amputees. However, when life tables were examined, the maintenance of ambulation advantage lasted only 12 months (PTA, 68.6%; 95% CI, 59.6%-77.7%; amputation, 48%; 95% CI, 40.4%-55.5%) and was not statistically significant at 2 years (62.2% [95% CI, 48.8%-71.5%] and 44% [95% CI, 35.8%-52.2%], respectively). Maintenance of independent living status advantage lasted only 3 months, with no statistically significant difference at 2 years (PTA, 60.5%; 95% CI, 45.4%-75.6%; amputation, 52.6%; 95% CI, 40.4%-64.9%). Although mortality was high in both cohorts, patients who underwent amputation had a survival advantage for all time intervals examined (at 2 years: PTA, 29%; 95% CI, 19.9%-38.1%; amputation, 48.1%; 95% CI, 39.2%-56.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who present with critical limb ischemia and physiologic impairments that preclude open surgery seem to have comorbidities that blunt any functional advantage achieved after PTA for limb salvage. PTA in this setting affords very little benefit compared with amputation alone.     

Cost of treating advanced leg ischemia. Bypass graft vs primary amputation

We compared the hospital costs of 94 patients undergoing femoropopliteal bypass grafts with those of 53 patients undergoing primary amputation. The total cost of uncomplicated bypass surgery averaged +20,300, compared with +14,000 for uncomplicated below-knee amputation. However, including the cost of prosthesis and rehabilitation, the total cost of primary amputation was +20,400, equivalent to that of the bypass operation. Complications requiring revision of a bypass graft increased hospitalization by 4.5 days with the total cost rising to +28,700; complications that ended with major amputation added 15 hospitalization days and had an average cost of +42,200. In contrast, complicated below-knee amputation cost +40,600 and added 12.5 hospitalization days. There is therefore no cost-benefit in primary amputation when compared with arterial reconstruction, and cost should not be used to deny a patient the opportunity for limb salvage.     

Limb salvage after subtotal supramalleolar amputation by initial shortening followed by tibial lengthening

BACKGROUND: We present a patient with a subtotal traumatic supramalleolar amputation of the leg, which was initially treated by a vascular reconstruction with deliberate bone and soft-tissue shortening. METHODS: To correct the ensuing complex deformity, which consisted of a varus hindfoot, leg length discrepancy and equinus, a staged reconstruction was planned. Initially, the hindfoot varus, in presence of a stiff ankle, was corrected by a supramalleolar osteotomy, followed by a Wagner distraction and finally a correction of the equinus. RESULTS: After a relatively long period of normal functioning, she regained painful minimal ankle function, which necessitated ankle fusion and correction of a pronation deformity. At the most recent follow-up 13 years after the injury, the patient is fully functional and has near normal leg length. CONCLUSION: Although a mangled lower extremity is often a candidate for primary amputation allowing early rehabilitation, in certain cases a good result can be obtained by a creative strategy.