Surgical outcomes of bone sarcoma of the foot

Objective: Limb-salvage following resection of bone sarcomas of the foot are challenging due to the complicated anatomy, adjacent neurovascular structures and few durable reconstruction options. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 50 patients with primary malignant bone sarcoma of the foot who underwent surgery including chondrosarcoma (n = 23), Ewing's sarcoma (n = 14) and osteosarcoma (n = 13). Results: Median follow-up was 68 months. The primary sites were metatarsal (n = 18), phalanges (n = 15), calcaneus (n = 13) and others (n = 4). The 5-year disease-specific survivals were 100, 83 and 83% in chondrosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma and osteosarcoma, respectively. Below knee amputation, ray/toe amputation, excision and curettage were performed in 21, 24, 2 and 3 patients, respectively. Below knee amputation was performed in 94% of mid/hindfoot tumours. Surgical margins were wide/radical, marginal and intralesional margin in 42, 5 and 3 patients. Three patients (6%) developed local recurrence, whereas, local recurrence was not observed in patients with wide/radical margins. Postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients (6%; surgical site infection n = 2 and delayed wound healing n = 1). Mean MSTS functional score was 26 points (range, 19-30). Conclusions: Good local control was achieved with acceptable functional outcomes and post-operative complications; almost all mid/hindfoot tumours required below knee amputation achieving wide/radical margins without local recurrence.