BACKGROUND:

Advancements in the management of bone tumors have markedly improved the morbidity following Limb Salvage Surgery(LSS). Current study aims to investigate the Quality of Life(QOL) and functional status among patients with primary bone tumors of lower limb treated with LSS.

METHODOLOGY:

Disease free status Patients with LSS (n=96; Male 65.6% and Female 34.4%), age range between 18-53, diagnosed with osteosarcoma (81.3%) and other bone tumors (18.7%); replaced with proximal tibia (46.9%), distal femur (45.8%), total femur (4.2%), distal tibia (2.1%) and inter calary(1%) prostheses were assessed for QOL and functional status using Cancer Institute QOL Questionnaire and Musculo Skeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scale at six months. A follow up assessment was taken between 12 and 15 months (n=80). Descriptive statistics and paired ‘t’ test were used for analysis.

RESULTS:

At six months, 50% of the patients had average QOL, 41.7% reported as high, 4-2% as very high and 4.2% as low. There is a significant improvement in the QOL and functional status between the two assessments on overall QOL (t=10.076; p<0.000), General Well Being (t=7.299; p< 0.000), Physical Well Being (t=6.889; p< 0.000), Cognitive well Being (t=3.453; p< 0.000), Body image(t=3.922; p<0.000) and  Pain (t=4.709; p< 0.000), and MSTS Score (t=11.982;  p< 0.000). However, Psychological wellbeing had decreased significantly at the follow-up assessment (t=19.340; p<0.000).

CONCLUSION: 

Majority of the LSS patients were able to achieve an average to good Quality of Life and functional status, which appears to improve with time. Enhancing the psychological wellbeing through appropriate interventions may further improve the QOL and functional outcome.