Abstract
Limb-sparing surgeries have been performed more frequently than amputation based on the belief that limb-sparing surgeries provide improved function and quality-of-life (QOL). However, this has not been extensively studied in the paediatric population, which has unique characteristics that have implications for function and QOL. Using the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, 528 adult long-term survivors of pediatric lower extremity bone tumours, diagnosed between 1970 and 1986, were contacted and completed questionnaries assessing function and QOL. Survivors were an average of 21 years from diagnosis with an average age of 35 years. Overall they reported excellent function and QOL Compared to those who had a limb-sparing procedure, amputees were not more likely to have lower function and QOL scores and self-perception of disability included general health status, lower educational attainment, older age and female gender. Findings from this study suggest that, over time, amputees do as well as those who underwent limb-sparing surgeries between 1970 and 1986. However, female gender, lower educational attainment and older current age appear to influence function, QOL and disability.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1858-1865 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | British Journal of Cancer |
Volume | 91 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 29 2004 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants U24-CA55727 and T32-CA09607, Bethesda, MD, USA; Children’s Cancer Research Fund, Minneapolis, MN, USA; National Childhood Cancer Foundation Research Fellowship, Arcadia, CA, USA and American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award, Alexandria, VA, USA.
Keywords
- Bone tumour
- Ewing's sarcoma
- Function
- Lower extremity
- Osteosarcoma
- Quality of life