Early Functional outcomes in Children and Adults referred for Prosthetic Rehabilitation following Extremity Amputation for Sarcoma & other tumours

Background - Every year, over 1000 persons in the UK are diagnosed to have sarcoma of extremities. Less than 10% of them undergo limb amputations. Very few other tumours result in amputation. There have been only a few published reports on prosthetic and functional outcomes for this group of patients.

Objectives - To evaluate the outcomes of prosthetic rehabilitation in persons with limb amputation secondary to soft-tissue sarcoma and other tumours

Methods Design -Retrospective chart review

Population - Persons with limb amputation for tumours referred for Prosthetic Rehabilitation- 2015 to 2019

Intervention - None

Outcome measures - Histopathology of tumours Survival status Level of Amputation Pre-amputation counseling Prosthetic limb use/walking Return to work Participation in sports and recreational activities Results 24 persons referred in 5 yrs 20 sarcomas, 2 lymphomas, 2 carcinomas Sarcomas: Osteosarcoma, pleomorphic, chondrosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma, nerve sheath tumor Of 10 not alive, median survival 7 months (range 3-36) Transfemoral 12 (50%) 22 (92%) lower limb amp. Service outcomes 11 (46%) referred for pre-amputation consultation 18 (75%) definitive prosthesis made; 16 (67%) progressed to home limb-wearing 9 (36%) independent in ADL 5 (20%) returned to sport and recreational activities

Conclusions - Majority of persons with limb amputation for tumour progressed to functional use of prosthetic limb.

Implications for practice - Explore quality improvement projects to enhance pre-amputation consultations, ADL independence.