A real human bone is obtained from a surgical patient or cadaver to graft onto the unaffected part of the bone. A metal plastic bone and joint device is implanted inside the limb. Involves both bone grafts and implantation of an artificial device. 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. 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. One way to remedy this problem is to halt the growth plates in the healthy leg.