Community outreach Title: Functional outcomes of limb-sparing surgery and amputation for the treatment of bone tumors of the lower limb – A systematic review. Bone tumors affect thousands of people worldwide, impacting individuals of all ages. Standard treatment typically combines surgery with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. In surgery, it is important to remove all affected tissue to minimize the risk of tumor recurrence. Traditionally, when a limb was involved, surgical resection was achieved through amputations. However, over the last few decades, new surgical techniques, known as limb-sparing surgery (LSS), have been developed to remove the tumor while preserving the limb and avoiding amputation. This review addresses a key question arising from these advancements. Which surgical approach, LSS or amputation, offers the best option for patients with malignant bone tumors? Specifically, this review focuses on functional outcomes, defined as the level of physical function a patient achieves after surgery. Functional outcomes are evaluated by various methods using scoring systems and questionnaires that measure various aspects of the patient’s physical condition, such as walking unaided and performing daily tasks like climbing stairs. By comparing these results for both amputation and LSS, the review aims to summarize which surgical technique may offer the better choice in terms of functional recovery. The aim of this study was to provide a clear comparison of the functional results associated with both surgeries and to provide health care professionals with a clear summary of the known literature. Comparing functional outcomes after amputation or LSS can help patients and healthcare providers make more informed treatment decisions. It is essential to address limitations in the existing literature on functional outcomes, particularly in aspects of daily life that are crucial to these patients yet often underrepresented in assessments. This review adds social value by highlighting these gaps and serves as a foundation for further research, encouraging a more profound investigation into functional outcomes to maximize social impact and improve the quality of life for patients with bone tumors. Authors: Silke Debeuckelaere and Jana Van Bunder Promotor: Dr. Desirée Dorleijn