Long Term Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Pediatric Bone Cancer: A Systematic Review

Purpose: To evaluate the current evidence on quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes for survivors of pediatric bone cancer in the lower extremities and to ascertain whether limb-sparing surgery does indeed bestow an advantage to these survivors. Methods: A thorough search of the literature was conducted. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) published in the last 10 years in English, (b) focused upon patients diagnosed when they were < 25 years of age, and (c) focused on QOL and functional outcomes in pediatric bone cancer patients who underwent either limb-sparing surgery or amputation in their course of treatment. Results: Sixteen articles were found that fulfilled all inclusion criteria. No significant differences in QOL outcomes were found. However some differences were found in functional outcomes when pediatric bone cancer survivors were compared by tumor site. Survivors with more proximal tumors had better functional outcomes with limb-sparing sparing surgery than their counterparts with amputation. Conclusions: Future nursing research should focus on interventions to improve short and long term QOL in these patients, as no studies were found that addressed potential interventions.