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Osteosarcoma surgery is often an important component of a treatment plan for a patient with a localized bone tumor. Patients with osteosarcomas that have spread or recurred may also benefit from surgery. Because this type of cancer is relatively rare, it is best for a patient to seek surgical treatment from a high-volume cancer center with orthopaedic surgeons who specialize in treating osteosarcoma. The multispecialty team at Moffitt Cancer Center takes a collaborative approach to ensure that each patient receives the treatment and supportive care necessary to achieve the best possible outcome and quality of life.

For most patients with localized bone tumors, limb-saving osteosarcoma surgery may be:

  • Recommended in conjunction with chemotherapy as an alternative to a traditional amputation of an affected limb (which was the standard of care prior to the advent of chemotherapy)
  • Performed after an initial course of chemotherapy to destroy cancerous cells and shrink a tumor
  • Designed to remove a tumor along with a wide margin of surrounding healthy tissue
  • Supplemented with post-operative chemotherapy to help destroy residual cancer cells and prevent recurrence

The majority of osteosarcoma patients are candidates for limb preservation. However, a decision to pursue limb-salvaging osteosarcoma surgery must be made carefully after taking into account a number of individual factors, including the potential need for rehabilitation and additional surgical procedures. For instance, a patient may elect to undergo reconstructive surgery to restore the function or appearance of an affected limb with implants, bone and soft tissue transplants, microvascular and muscle transfers and bone graft substitutes. At Moffitt, we believe in educating our patients so that they can make fully informed treatment decisions, and we offer a full range of the latest treatment techniques and supportive care options for patients with bone cancer.

Future progress in the surgical treatment of bone cancer will result from the continued evaluation of new osteosarcoma surgery techniques in clinical trials. Through our robust clinical trials program, Moffitt offers patients opportunities to be among the first to benefit from promising new treatments and surgical procedures and help advance the existing knowledge base about bone cancer.

If you’d like to explore treatment options for osteosarcoma, including surgery, the experts at Moffitt can answer your questions and recommend an individualized treatment plan for you. Call 1-888-663-3488 or complete a new patient registration form online. Referrals are not required to consult with our expert oncologists.