title: Oncologic approaches to pediatric limb preservation.
abstract: Preservation of limb function in the pediatric oncology patient is uniquely challenging. Treatment must be strictly prioritized in terms of the patient's life, the limb, its function, length equalization, and cosmetic appearance. At the same time, social, socioeconomic, and cultural factors must be understood and respected to achieve the most advantageous outcome for both the patient and family. Given these considerations, as well as the relative rarity of many oncologic diagnoses and the myriad of presentation scenarios, drafting generalized treatment recommendations is difficult. Instead, orthopaedic intervention in the care of children and young adults with oncologic conditions must be individualized, with the broad goal being optimization of limb function rather than rigid advocacy of limb salvage.
authors.affiliation: Tucson Orthopaedic Institute, Center for Orthopaedic Oncology, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Weisstein
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Goldsby
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000379:methods*; D008495:Medical Oncology; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*