Bone Cancer Surgery
Bone cancer, though rare, is a very serious condition and can affect the long-term health and well-being of patients. The treatment of bone cancer typically involves surgery that removes the tumor and sometimes other tissue around it. There are two primary forms of surgical treatments for bone cancer: limb salvage surgery and amputation. Both have their pros and cons. This comprehensive guide helps explore bone cancer surgery, including limb salvage and amputation, steps of the procedure, cost, recovery, risks, and the best hospitals in India for treatment.
What is Bone Cancer Surgery?
Bone cancer surgery involves removing cancerous tumors from the bone to prevent further spread and to alleviate symptoms. Depending on the type, size, and location of the tumor, bone cancer surgery may involve either limb salvage or amputation. Limb salvage surgery aims to remove the tumor while preserving the affected limb’s function, whereas amputation involves removing the entire limb to eliminate the cancer.
Medical professionals often combine it with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and physical therapy, to enhance outcomes.
Why do surgeons perform Bone Cancer Surgery?
Surgeons perform Osteosarcoma surgery for the following reasons:
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To remove the tumor: The main aim is to excise the cancerous tumor and surrounding tissue so that we eliminate the cancer and prevent its spread to other parts of the body.
- To prevent loss of function: The specialists try as much as possible to conserve the function and movement in the limb affected by the bone cancer so that the patient will continue enjoying their quality lifestyle.
- To eradicate recurrence: Surgery is necessary to ensure the cancer does not recur in the same region.
- To enhance chances of survival: Surgical tumor removal increases the survival possibilities, especially in combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapy
Types of Bone Cancer Surgery
The two most common surgeries to treat bone cancer are as follows:
- Limb Salvage Surgery
Limb salvage surgery is the most commonly recommended method of treatment in the case of bone cancer when it has appeared in the limbs. It involves removing the tumor and saving as much bone and tissue as possible.
- Procedure: The surgeon performs the tumor resection and then may reconstruct the bone using an implant or graft of bone tissue. This means the patient gets to retain all functions and aspects of the diseased limb.
- Indication: Surgeons more or less commonly indicate this in those with localized diseases where they can facilitate removal without losing limb functions.
- Amputation
An amputation requires that the cancerous limb is removed- at least parts of it in this case.
- Procedure: If the tumor is large or located in such a way that it cannot be removed with limb salvage surgery, amputation is performed. This procedure involves removing the entire limb or part of the limb affected by the cancer.
- Indication: It is usually inevitable to amputate patients suffering from advanced bone cancer that invades a vast part of the limb or has infiltrated other tissues such that it is not possible to resect them with limb-salvaging surgery.
Steps in Procedure of Bone Cancer Surgery
Bone cancer surgery, be it limb salvage or amputation, involves some standardized steps. The procedure usually includes:
- General Anesthesia: General anesthesia renders the patient unconscious and painless throughout the operation.
- Incision The surgeon makes an incision in the skin covering the region of the tumor for a piece of access to the bone and affected tissue.
- Tumour removal The surgeon gently removes the tumor; he may also take along with it any affected tissues around it, along with the surrounding tissues. In limb salvage surgery, a prosthesis or bone graft is used to reconstruct the limb.
- Reconstruction (if required): In limb salvage surgery, the surgeon can reconstruct the bone with prosthetic implants, bone grafts, or metal rods to bring back the limb’s functionality and stability.
- Closure: After the removal of the tumor, the surgical site is closed, and the patient is taken to a recovery room.
Benefits of Bone Cancer Surgery
Bone cancer surgery has a few key advantages:
- Potential for cure: Surgery performed early can entirely remove the cancer, providing the potential for cure.
- Improved survival rates: Surgery, especially with chemotherapy or radiation, improves the survival rate since it removes the tumor and its spread.
- Preservation of limb function: Limb salvage surgery is a benefit as the patient can regain his daily activities and have a better quality of life.
- Removal of symptoms: Surgery removes symptoms such as pain, swelling, and the inability to move the affected limb caused by the tumor.
Cost of Bone Cancer Surgery
- United States: $40,000 to $70,000
- United Kingdom: $20,000 to $50,000.
- India: $3,000 to $10,000
Best Hospitals in India for Bone Cancer Surgery
Many world-class hospitals in India treat bone cancer. The best hospitals for Osteosarcoma surgery in Delhi and other cities are as follows:
- Metro Hospital Faridabad
- Medanta—The Medicity—Gurgaon
- Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi NCR
- Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, Delhi NCR
Risks and Complications
Bone cancer surgery involves certain risks and possible complications, such as:
- Infection: As with any surgery, there is a risk of infection at the surgical site.
- Bleeding: There may be excessive bleeding, especially if blood vessels are damaged during surgery.
- Nerve damage: There is a risk of nerve injury during surgery, which could lead to numbness, weakness, or loss of function in the affected area.
- Loss of limb function (in case of amputation): Amputation results in the permanent loss of the affected limb, requiring rehabilitation and prosthetic use for mobility.
- Recurrence: In some cases, despite surgery, the cancer may return, requiring additional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or further surgery.
- Blood clots: Any major surgery carries the risk of blood clots, which can cause complications such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.
Recovery
Recovery from bone cancer surgery varies depending on the type of surgery and the patient’s general health. Here is what to expect:
- Hospital Stay: Patients are usually kept in the hospital for 3 to 10 days, depending on the complexity of the surgery.
- In cases of initial recovery, it requires about 4 to 6 weeks. Longer periods are in cases where salvage surgery on a limb or amputation is done.
- Rehabilitation: After limb salvage surgery, individuals may be required to undergo physical therapy to regain all functions and become mobile. This is different when doctors perform amputation surgery. The medical team should fit the patient with prosthetics and the patient will have to acquire new mobility capabilities.
The medical staff can only manage long-term recovery with follow-ups after surgery by monitoring the time scale of this patient’s possible recurrence of that cancer.
