title: Principles of limb salvage surgery of the upper extremity.
abstract: The goals of limb salvage surgery in the upper extremity are to achieve resection of the tumor and preserve hand function without the risk for local recurrence. Historically, amputation was the treatment of choice for a neoplasm of the hand, wrist, and forearm, but limb-sparing procedures have become feasible largely because of advances in diagnostic imaging, reconstructive microsurgery, and adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Because preservation of hand function, even modest levels thereof, is clearly superior to amputation from a functional standpoint, the authors review the principles of limb salvage in this article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 665, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Leit
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tomaino
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation; D005542:Forearm; D018212:Giant Cell Tumor of Bone / Q000601:surgery; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps