[Bone and soft-tissue tumors of the foot and ankle]

Abstract

Background: This study reports the epidemiology of bone and soft-tissue tumors of the foot and ankle, presents therapy strategies, and evaluates mid-term clinicofunctional outcome after surgery for malignant tumors.

Methods: Two hundred four patients with tumors of the foot and ankle were analyzed (163 benign and 41 malignant). Epidemiology and surgical therapy are reported.

Results: The most frequent tumors were exostosis, bone cyst, and osteoid osteoma for benign tumors and metastases and chondrosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma for malignant tumors. In more than 90% of the benign tumors, local resection could be carried out, whereas in malignant tumors, ablative procedures and arthrodeses were almost as common as limb- and joint-sparing techniques. However, follow-up revealed good functional results and a 5-year survival rate of 84% for patients with primary malignant tumors.

Conclusion: Tumors of the foot and ankle require a thorough therapeutic strategy. Mid-term functional results and survival rate after surgical treatment are good, although a high percentage of ablative procedures or fusions could not be avoided in our patients.