Case Study: Limb Preservation
from Practice Update, Summer 2004
Jesus celebrated his eleventh birthday in May. He’s the youngest of five kids. He looks forward to beginning sixth grade in the fall—after a good, long summer vacation. Last fall Jesus sustained a pathologic fracture of his femur while playing. He was transferred to The Children’s Hospital from another facility. He under went a biopsy showing osteosarcoma.
He was treated with chemotherapy and after a good response underwent limb sparing resection of the distal femur and replacement with a modular distal femoral replacement total knee arthroplasty prosthesis. He has now completed chemotherapy and is working in physical therapy on his leg strength and gait.
Years ago, Jesus would probably have lost his leg, but with advances in limb-sparing surgery and prosthetic technology, Jesus can look forward to joining his friends on the playground this fall.
