Comparative Observation of Two Types of Limb Salvage Surgery on Limb Function and Quality of Life in Patients With Knee Joint Osteosarcoma

Abstract

BackgroundWe compared the effects of two surgical procedures on limb function and quality of life in patients with osteosarcoma in the knee.MethodsThis retrospective study evaluated the postoperative outcomes of patients treated with JPLS and JPRS for osteosarcoma around the knee between November 2000 and December 2019. All patients were followed up for at least one year. Patients' lower extremity function, knee function, and quality of life were evaluated during follow-up using the MSTS score, IKDC score, and SF-36 score.ResultsAll 38 patients received a successful operation, and all incisions healed in one stage after surgery. At 12 months after the operation, the MSTS score in the prosthetic-replacement group (22.79±5.22) was lower than that in the joint-preservation group (27.05±1.62)(P=0.002). The IKDC score was lower in the prosthetic-replacement group (59.89±11.22) than in the joint-preservation group (76.84±9.42)( P <0.001). After 12 months, the SF-36 scores of physiological and social function in the joint-preserving group were higher than those in the prosthetic-replacement group (P <0.05), and there were no significant differences among the other indexes (P >0.05). Comparing the distribution of each item in the MSTS and IKDC scoring criteria between the joint-preservation and the prosthetic-replacement group revealed that the limb function, pain, satisfaction, support assistance, and the walking and gait of the joint preservation group were superior to those of the prosthetic-replacement group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in knee flexion between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the joint preservation group was superior to the prosthesis replacement group in terms of pain, swelling, twisting, softening of the leg, movement downstairs, sitting up from a chair, kneeling, squatting, running straight forward, jumping up with the injured leg and landing, and quickly stopping or starting (P < 0.05).ConclusionCompared with joint-prosthesis replacement surgery, joint-preservation limb salvage leads to better joint function and quality of life. To improve the limb function and quality of life of patients with long-term survival osteosarcoma, joint-preservation limb salvage should be carried out according to the principles of Operation Indication, neoadjuvant and effective chemotherapy.