Specialised treatment for bone cancer

Specialised treatment for bone cancer
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Highlights

Specialised treatment for bone cancer, Musculoskeletal surgical oncologist Dr Kishore Bhavanam Reddy recently performed a rare operation at American Oncology Institute that saved the leg of a nine-year-old boy who was suffering from Ewing’s sarcoma.

Musculoskeletal surgical oncologist Dr Kishore Bhavanam Reddy recently performed a rare operation at American Oncology Institute that saved the leg of a nine-year-old boy who was suffering from Ewing’s sarcoma.

Called wide excision with reconstruction of total femur, this rare and complex surgery has only been performed on a few occasions in south India. The advanced surgery involves removing a long section of thigh bone and replacing it with an implantable prosthesis, or artificial body part, that extends as the patient grows.

Fewer than 10 surgeons in India offer the procedure, for which Dr Kishore received advanced, super-specialised training in Singapore. In performing the procedure successfully, Dr Kishore not only saved the leg of a young boy but also redefined possibilities for patients impacted by bone cancer.

Ewing’s sarcoma, a relatively rare form of cancer, affects the bone. While Ewing’s sarcoma can impact patients of any age, nearly all are under the age of 30. In many cases, the disease metastasises, or spreads to other organs, due to missed diagnosis. Often doctors are left with limited options for treatment, many times having to resort to amputation of impacted limbs. However, when detected early and treated aggressively, patients impacted by Ewing’s sarcoma have good long-term prognosis.

In this case, as it often does, treatment included a combination of chemotherapy followed by surgery. To preserve the young patient’s leg, Dr Kishore removed the entire cancerous section of the boy’s bone, which extended from his thigh to his knee, and implanted a device called an expandable mega-prosthesis to replace the missing section of bone. The patient has been discharged from the hospital and is recovering well.

“Procedures such as this one are extremely gratifying for physicians. To bring together surgical training, an implantable device and a team of nurses and doctors to save a young patient’s leg inspires medical professionals. More importantly, it shows all of us the ever-changing possibilities in medicine and that many of the world’s latest therapy options are available in Hyderabad,” said Dr Kishore.

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