Twelve patients who had a malignant tumor of the distal end of the femur
were treated with a Van Nes tibial rotationplasty. The survival rates were
comparable with those for above-the-knee amputees and patients who had an
endoprosthetic replacement. The results of functional testing showed that
these patients performed as well as those who had endoprosthetic
replacement and better than those who had above-the-knee amputation.
Rotationplasty is therefore a favorable alternative to amputation or
endoprosthetic replacement, either as a primary or as a salvage
procedure.