Applying microwave hyperthermia in limb salvage surgery for malignant bone tumor of extremities / 中国矫形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

[Objective]To analyze the clinical effect of microwave hyperthermia in limb salvage surgery for malignant bone tumor of extremities. [Methods]From July 1999 to July of 2005, 309 patients with malignant or bone tumors of extremities were treated by heat necrosis of tumor-bearing bone in situ for limb salvage.The most common diagnosis was osteosarcoma. The first step of the traditional limb salvage was en bloc resection of the tumor-bearing bone. For the novel method, the tumor bearing bone was just separated from surrounding normal tissues, and was devitalized by hyperthermia in situ.After re-strengthening the dead bone, its mechanical property became strong enough to support the body weight.[Results]The beyond 3 years survival rate was 60.2% for high-grade malignancy. In great majority of the patients, cosmetic and useful limbs were preserved. The complication rate was lower than that in the literature reports.[Conclusion]The long term experience has proved that the new method has made its way in the field of orthopedic oncology. The applying of hyperthermia for treatment of bone tumors is an effective, simple, and inexpensive method. The oncological and functional results are encouraging. Hyperthermia should deserve more attention than it has in the clinical practice.