A metal plastic bone and joint device is implanted inside the limb. Involves both bone grafts and implantation of an artificial device. Vascularized autograft reconstruction. Involves rebuilding the damaged bone as well as the blood vessels attached to it. In each case, soft tissue and muscle are transferred to cover and close the site and restore motor power.
Chemotherapy often follows surgery.
Physical therapy helps retrain muscles and nerves. While all this rehabilitation and healing is going on, the extremity appears normal with barely a trace of what occurred inside. For one thing, growth in young children particularly the growth of the legs presents a major challenge. While an expandable endoprothesis can be lengthened in small increments to allow for the growth of the child, the healthy leg may grow at a faster pace in very young children. This can result in a significant difference in leg lengths.