The Rush Approach to Limb Preservation

If you are at risk of losing your limb due to cancer, trauma, peripheral vascular disease or infection, our limb preservation team is here for you with innovative, compassionate care.

We do everything possible to help you keep your limb — even if you've been told amputation is your only alternative. In fact, our limb-sparing technology has helped 90 to 95% of our patients avoid amputation.

Rush has been one of the nation's premier limb preservation centers for nearly five decades, specializing in bone and soft tissue cancers. We have cared for thousands of patients of all ages, including those with the most difficult-to-treat conditions. And we've been a leader in research to improve limb-sparing technology.

Effectively treating limb-threatening health issues requires a coordinated approach by multiple specialists, and that's the standard of care at Rush. Depending on your needs, your team may include experts from orthopedic oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, medical oncology, acute care surgery, vascular surgery, podiatry, endocrinology, rehabilitation, wound care and other specialties.

Rush Excellence in Limb Preservation

• Bone cancer expertise: If you or your child has bone cancer (sarcoma), our top priority is to save both your life and your affected limb. At Rush you will receive the highest quality of care by bone and soft tissue cancer experts who are among the nation’s most experienced at treating these rare cancers. Although our Limb Preservation Center doctors see patients at our downtown campus and Rush Oak Brook, Rush offers cancer services at a number of our locations, so you can receive some of your care closer to home.
• State-of-the-art treatments: We're committed to doing everything possible to save and preserve the function of your limb. This includes tools like 3D printed guides to better plan your surgery and nano-coated implants to reduce post-surgery infection. Rush has also pioneered the cool plasma scalpel, which kills microscopic cancer cells left behind after tumor removal to prevent the cancer from coming back. And we specialize in microvascular reconstruction that uses tissue, bone and blood vessels from other parts of the body to effectively restore damaged limbs.
• Tightly coordinated care: We know that when you're the patient, no surgery is routine. So we strive to make the process as easy as possible for you by coordinating all aspects of your care — from pre-operative testing to obtaining all of the equipment you may need after surgery, such as durable medical equipment, braces, crutches, orthotics or special shoes.
• Advanced treatment for complex wounds: To heal chronic wounds caused by complications of amputation, diabetes or other issues, we collaborate closely with wound care experts at our three Rush hospitals, including our comprehensive wound centers at Rush Copley Medical Center and Rush Oak Park Hospital. Because every patient's wound is unique, we'll develop an individualized plan of care for you, including diagnostic tests, treatments (including hyperbaric oxygen therapy) and weekly clinic visits for wound debridement. You'll also learn how to provide wound care at home and other steps to help you heal.