The objective of the present study was to reveal the basic parameters of quality of life (QoL) in patients with osteosarcoma after limb salvage surgery and after amputation. Study participants were 80 inpatients
with osteosarcoma of the National Medical Research Center of Oncology named after N.N. Blokhin. 39 patients underwent amputation and 41 patients had limb salvage surgery. QoL was studied in a month after the treatment. Method. The Quality of Life Questionnaire (Core 30, of the European Organization for Research and Treatment Cancer) developed by the Study Group on Quality of Life, was used in order to study the aspects of patients’ health-related QoL. Patients’ psychological characteristics were studied by means of the Big V, WCQ and PIL Test questionnaires. Results. The results of the study of QoL basic parameters in patients with osteosarcoma revealed no significant differences between patients who
underwent amputation and patients after limb salvage surgery. The patients had similar QoL indices in both functional and symptom scales, and similar pain intensity, too, assessed by patients themselves and
their attending physician, except physical and cognitive functioning, which were slightly higher in patients who had limb salvage surgery. Conclusion. The absence of differences in QoL in patients with osteosarcoma after amputation and after limb salvage surgery needs further thorough research in order to reveal psychological factors of adjustment to the disease in these patients.