Applications of external fixation in long bone tumor

There has been a dramatic improvement in the survival rate of patients with sarcomas and in the successful salvage of limbs as a result of progress in chemotherapy, radiological evaluation, surgical technique, and the technology of materials and implants. Complications, however, such as deep infection, fracture, bone resorption, and breakages of prostheses still occur. The challenge to provide long-lasting survival and function of the limb after reconstruction is now being met with biological solutions using living bone. The ideal reconstruction should have biological affinity, resistance to infection, sufficient biomechanical strength, and durability. Vascularized bone transfer has limitations in terms of length and strength. Since 1990, distraction osteogenesis, which can regenerate bone of sufficient strength for reconstruction, has been adopted for tumor surgery. © Springer-Verlag Italia 2008, 2012.[Book Chapter