Medical Reports: Bone Cancer Amputee

WSVN -- Not much slows Isaac Escobedo.

Isaac Escobedo: "A day after the surgery, he was walking."

A fighter who was diagnosed with a tumor in his knee before his leg would be amputated near his thigh. Now a new procedure called Rotationplasty will save more of Isaac's leg.

Mark Barry, Pediatric Orthopedic: "The whole principle is being able to remove the tumor from his leg, leave no tumor cells behind, and then rebuild his leg as best possible to give him the best long-term function."

Pediatric surgeon Mark Barry amputated Isaac's leg just above the knee. Removing the tumor but keeping the nerves and arteries intact, he rotated the ankle 180 degrees and reattached it.

Mark Barry: "This is how he puts his foot down straight to let him walk around with the leg straight, and this is how he bends his knee, so, essentially, the ankle joint now becomes the new knee joint, and the foot acts as a lever to power his artificial leg."

This new procedure will give Isaac more flexibility and more use of his leg.

Mark Barry: "He can run, ultimately. He can play, jump, just like normal kids."

So far, there's no sign of any more tumors. Isaac is cancer free, making a speedy recovery.

Diana Diaz: "Rotationplasty is mostly used for kids with bone cancer, bone tumors and birth defects."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Ashlee Seymour
Director of Media Relations Sunrise Children's Hospital
shlee.seymour@hcahealthcare.com
(702) 731-8288