Surgery Saved Patient's Leg

During a radical surgery to treat a rare form of bone cancer, surgeons removed half of a patient's pelvis and saved the entire limb instead of amputating.

During a radical surgery to treat a rare form of bone cancer, surgeons removed half of a patient's pelvis and saved the entire limb instead of amputating. The patient was able to walk with assistance five weeks after surgery.

All I can tell you is that the pain was so bad. I could not walk for one month before my operation, said Carlos Ortiz, 62, a delivery driver. Now the pain is gone, simply gone. I am so grateful.

Cancer Key Facts and Statistics
Cancer is an abnormal cell growth and it can destroy other body tissues. 1 in 6 deaths that occur in the world is due to cancer. Here are some key facts and statistics about cancer

Ortiz was diagnosed with a form of cancer called chondrosarcoma, the second most common bone malignancy affecting older adults. This cancer is not responsive to chemotherapy or radiation. Surgery is the only treatment option, which, in 90 percent of cases, results in a disfiguring loss of the leg and part of the hip.

It is an absolute joy to see Mr. Ortiz walk,said Anna A. Kulidjian, MD, MSc, FRCSC, surgical oncologist in the Department of Orthopaedics at UC San Diego. There was only a 10 percent chance his leg would be saved. These results represent the
incredible efforts of a team of surgeons who operated for more than 14 intense hours.

During the operation to remove half the pelvis, the team freed the tumor and salvaged the leg. The growth was embedded in the pelvic bone, nerves and blood vessels and adjacent to critical structures such as the bladder, bowel and prostate.

Quiz on Cancer
Cancer, is the second most leading cause of death worldwide. Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Take this quiz on and test how much you know about cancer.

The surgeons disconnected the massive growth from its blood supply without disrupting critical blood flow to the buttock and leg. The leg muscle was then reconstructed and attached to the abdominal musculature. Over time, a combination of scarring and new muscle will hold the leg bone in place.

Normally the only option for patients who undergo a hemipelvectomy, a partial removal of the pelvis, is to use a wheel chair for the balance of their life. Prosthetics are not an option. Sadly, the loss of ambulation often leads to depression and a strain on the family, said Kulidjian. By preserving his leg in addition to urological and bowel function Mr. Ortiz will be able to walk again, pick up his daughter, and return to his regular job. For me, there is nothing better.

Better Long-Term Kidney Function Linked to Less Radical Tumor Surgery
Study says patients with kidney tumours are much more likely to enjoy good long-term renal function if they undergo nephron-sparing surgery

The surgical team included Kulidjian, Nikhil Kansal, MD, Scott Meyer, MD, and Christopher Kane, MD.

Source-Newswise

Radical Brain Surgery Successful in Eliminating Epileptic Seizures in a 14-year-old Boy
Leukemia treatment turned him into a epileptic patient. But a radical brain surgery has proved successful in curing him of fits.