Amputation and Sarcoma

Dr. Murray Brennan: The decision for amputation is a very difficult one, and it certainly varies with the age of the patient, but it also varies with the type of tumor. If the ability to perform a limb sparing operation would render that patient, because of age or other infirmity, with a useless extremity with the likelihood that they would never wear a prosthesis, that of course would challenge us to think of some different way.

Conversely, sometimes in the younger, active, fit person, an amputation with a prosthesis can be the quickest way to cure the disease but actually to get that person back to be a fully active member - running, walking, swimming with a prosthetic limb - a difficult decision for the patient.

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