Surgical management of primary bone sarcomas

Abstract

This article aims to address the principles of surgical treatment of primary bone sarcomas including chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma of bone. This piece aims to serve as a guide to experienced orthopaedic surgeons who have limited knowledge of managing musculoskeletal tumours especially primary bone sarcomas. Important principles surrounding surgery involving bone sarcomas, principles of biopsy of such lesions and reconstruction techniques have been discussed. Limb salvage is the expectation in today's era and though endoprosthesis replacement is an important tool in a surgeon's armoury, biological methods of reconstruction have also shown to be effective in many settings. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are vital adjuvant therapies associated with these sarcomas, and they have been discussed in this article.