Straightplasty, a Limb Salvage Procedure in Malignant and Aggressive Bone Tumors of Lower Extremities: A Retrospective Analysis

Introduction The management of malignant bone tumors of lower extremities involves various modalities, which depend not only on local and systemic affection but are also affected by psychosocial factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate functional and psychosocial outcomes in patients with non-salvageable lower limbs having malignant or aggressive benign bone tumors of distal thighs, who were treated with a technique called straightplasty. Material and methods We enrolled 20 patients of non-salvageable primary malignant or aggressive benign bone tumors around the knee. Out of these, 15 patients were followed and evaluated in view of functional and clinical outcomes having a minimum of 22 months of final follow-up. Results A total of 15 patients (8 males, 7 females) having a non-salvageable lower limb with a mean age of 20.53 years (range, 12 to 45 years), who were managed with straightplasty and followed for a mean duration of 31.73 months (range 22 to 72 months) were evaluated clinico-radiologically, and the functional outcomes were measured by Enneking's method. The surgical procedure is simple and better in terms of functional outcomes than other procedures described in the literature, while it is observed as psychosocially more acceptable in developing nations, especially in the Indian context. Most of the parameters are comparable to rotationplasty and above-knee amputation, whereas it is less technically demanding and satisfying due to the straight limb rather than the rotated leg in rotationplasty. Conclusion We recommend straightplasty as an alternative to rotationplasty or above-knee amputation in patients having malignant or aggressive benign tumors around the knee joint and where limb salvage procedures are not feasible.