Successful Limb-Salvage Surgery for Chondrosarcoma of the Femur at Kauvery Hospital Trichy:
A 40-year-old mechanic, who initially developed right knee pain and swelling, was evaluated and found to have a suspicious bone tumor in the distal femur (thigh bone near the knee joint). After further diagnostic tests, including MRI scans and a biopsy, he was diagnosed with Chondrosarcoma (a type of bone cancer) in the lower end of thigh bone. The tumor was also found to be involving the femoral artery and vein -major blood vessels supplying the thigh and leg said Dr.Anis, Consultant – Surgical Oncologist, Kauvery Hospital Trichy.
Conventional Treatment for Bone Tumors
Historically, the standard treatment for bone cancers involved amputation—removal of the limb above the tumor level. However, with advancements in medical technology, many patients can now undergo Limb Salvage Surgery, which preserves the limb using modern prostheses for bone reconstruction. Despite these advancements, in cases where the tumor involves major blood vessels, amputation remains the only option in most centers.
Our Innovative Approach: A Landmark Limb-Salvage Surgery
At our center, a team of surgical oncologists and vascular surgeons successfully performed a complex Limb Salvage Surgery, preserving both the patient’s limb and its blood supply.
Key Steps of the Surgery:
Tumor Removal: The tumor was removed with a wide margin of healthy tissue to reduce the risk of recurrence while carefully preserving important muscle and tendon structures for optimal post-operative function.
Blood Supply Reconstruction: A vein graft from the opposite limb was used to restore blood flow to the leg.
Bone Reconstruction: A modular prosthesis replaced the affected section of the femur.
Soft Tissue Reconstruction: The surgical team meticulously reconstructed the surrounding soft tissues to ensure stability and mobility.The eight-hour surgery was uneventful, and postoperatively:
The patient was made to walk with partial weight-bearing from Day 3.By the end of the first week, he was walking without support.He was then discharged and later underwent radiotherapy to further reduce the risk of recurrence. Today, the patient is disease-free and has returned to his profession as a mechanic—a testament to the success of modern surgical techniques in preserving function and improving quality of life shared Dr.Anis, Surgical Oncologist, Kauvery Hospital Trichy.
This case highlights the remarkable advancements in limb-sparing cancer surgery and the expertise of our multidisciplinary team in offering hope and mobility to patients with complex bone tumors.
The Medical Administrator & Mr. R. Anbuchezian, the Facility Director, praised Dr. Anis for successfully performing the Limb Sparing Cancer Surgery at Kauvery Hospital Thennur in Trichy.
