A rare case of osteosarcoma of the proximal fibula; challenges of surgical management

• Main Authors: Atmananda s Hegde, Ravindra M Shenoy, Deepak K Rai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Subjects: Osteosarcoma; proximal fibula; wide resection
• Online Access: http://www.amhsjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2321-4848;year=2013;volume=1;issue=2;spage=155;epage=158;aulast=Hegde

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignancy of bone if we exclude the marrow-based malignancies such as myeloma, lymphoma, and leukemia. Osteosarcoma is the eighth most common form of childhood cancer, comprising 2.4% of all malignancies in pediatric patients, and approximately 20% of all primary bone cancers. The proximal fibula is a very rare site for osteosarcoma, and in Mayo series, reported incidence was only 2%. The purpose of this article is to report a very rare presentation of osteosarcoma in proximal fibula and to discuss the challenges in its surgical management. Proximal fibula osteosarcoma carries a good prognosis if sound oncological margins are achieved during the initial surgery. In addition, lateral soft tissue structures should be meticulously reconstructed to prevent post-operative knee instability and to ensure a good functional outcome.