title: Functional ability and physical activity in children and young adults after limb-salvage or ablative surgery for lower extremity bone tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aim of our study was to compare functional ability and physical activity in children and young adults who underwent surgery for a malignant bone tumor that was located around the knee.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 82 patients aged 8-25 years with a follow-up of 1-5 years. The functional ability and the amount of physical activity were evaluated by means of questionnaires and objective instruments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty nine patients underwent limb-salvage surgery (24 allograft and 15 endoprosthesis) and 43 underwent ablative surgery (27 amputations and 16 rotationplasty). Patients in the limb-salvage group were significantly older at the time of surgery than patients in the ablative group (mean age 15.2 years vs. 13.2 years, P = 0.03). Apart from significantly better scores for the timed up and down stairs and various walking activities in the limb-salvage group as compared to the ablative surgery group, no significant differences were seen for any of the outcome measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One to 5 years after limb-salvage and ablative surgery due to a malignant bone tumor children and young adults do, apart from a few activities involving walking and climbing stairs, not differ with respect to overall functional ability and physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. w.p.bekkering@lumc.nl
authors.forename: W Peter
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Bekkering
authors.forename: Theodora P M
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Vliet Vlieland
authors.forename: Hendrik M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Koopman
authors.forename: Gerard R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Schaap
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Bart Schreuder
authors.forename: Auke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beishuizen
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Jutte
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hoogerbrugge
authors.forename: Jacob K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Anninga
authors.forename: Rob G H H
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Nelissen
authors.forename: Antonie H M
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Taminiau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery*; D023821:Limb Salvage; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult