Limb Salvage Surgery in India
Also known as Limb-sparing surgery, limb salvage surgery for bone cancer, megaprosthesis surgery, endoprosthetic reconstruction, sarcoma limb surgery
The short answer
Limb salvage surgery in India costs between $6,000 and $15,000, against $65,000 to $100,000 in the US. The surgery removes a bone or soft tissue sarcoma along with a margin of healthy tissue while preserving the limb, reconstructing the defect with an artificial implant (megaprosthesis), bone graft, or biological reconstruction, as an alternative to amputation.
About Limb Salvage Surgery
Limb salvage surgery removes a bone or soft tissue sarcoma, most commonly osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, or various soft tissue sarcomas, along with a margin of surrounding healthy tissue, while preserving the affected limb rather than amputating it. Since the standard of care shifted decades ago from routine amputation to limb-sparing approaches, limb salvage surgery has become the preferred option for the majority of eligible patients today.
Deciding between limb salvage and amputation
Whether limb salvage is possible depends on whether the tumour can be completely removed with a clear margin while the major nerves, blood vessels and enough functional tissue can be preserved. If the tumour has grown extensively into these critical structures, amputation may still be the safer and more appropriate option. This decision is made carefully by your surgical oncology team based on detailed imaging, and is always weighed against your specific goals, functional expectations, and long-term outlook.
How the limb is reconstructed
Once the tumour and affected bone segment are removed, the resulting gap is reconstructed using one of several techniques: a megaprosthesis, a custom or modular metal implant that replaces the removed section of bone and joint; a bone graft, using donor bone (allograft) or the patient's own bone from elsewhere (autograft); or biological reconstruction methods in select cases. The choice depends on the tumour's location, the amount of bone removed, and your surgeon's assessment of what will give the best long-term function.
Part of a larger cancer treatment plan
Limb salvage surgery is almost always one part of a broader treatment plan that includes chemotherapy, and in some cases radiation, given before surgery (neoadjuvant) to shrink the tumour, and/or after surgery (adjuvant) to reduce the risk of recurrence or spread. The surgery itself is priced and planned separately from this chemotherapy course, which your oncology team will outline as part of your overall treatment plan.
Why patients choose India for this
Partner hospitals offer the same megaprosthesis, allograft and reconstruction techniques used at leading Western orthopaedic oncology centres, at a fraction of the surgical cost.
Limb salvage surgery requires specific expertise in oncologic margins and complex reconstruction; our partner surgeons work in dedicated bone and soft tissue sarcoma programs, not general orthopaedic practice handling occasional cases.
Partner hospitals offer both imported megaprosthesis systems and quality Indian-manufactured alternatives, giving families a genuine choice that can meaningfully affect overall cost without compromising on surgical standard.
Since limb salvage surgery is usually paired with chemotherapy, partner hospitals coordinate orthopaedic oncology and medical oncology together, so your treatment sequence is planned as a whole rather than across separate facilities.
Limb Salvage Surgery cost
| Country | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| India — with Nobel Medi Assistance | $6,000 – $15,000 |
| United States | $65,000 - $100,000 |
| United Kingdom / Europe | $40,000 - $70,000 |
| UAE / Middle East | $35,000 - $60,000 |
| Singapore | $40,000 - $65,000 |
Figures are indicative for international patients and depend on the hospital, the surgeon and your reports. Your exact cost is confirmed in writing after a specialist review — free, and with no obligation.
What the estimate covers
Included
- Orthopaedic oncology surgeon and surgical team fees
- Operation theatre and anaesthesia charges
- Standard megaprosthesis, graft or reconstruction implant as agreed in the treatment plan
- Hospital stay for the planned duration
- Routine medicines during the hospital stay
- Initial physiotherapy sessions during admission
- Pathology assessment of the removed tumour and surgical margins
Not included
- Diagnostic workup, biopsy and staging scans done before arrival in India
- Chemotherapy or radiation, whether given before or after surgery
- Flights, visa and travel insurance
- Accommodation for the recovery period after discharge
- Upgrade to a premium or fully custom imported implant, if chosen over the standard option
- Treatment for complications unrelated to the surgery
- Extended physiotherapy and rehabilitation after returning home
How Limb Salvage Surgery is done
- Consultation and reviewAn orthopaedic oncology surgeon reviews your biopsy, imaging and staging remotely to confirm the diagnosis and whether limb salvage is a realistic option for your case.
- Pre-operative workupOn arrival, detailed imaging (MRI/CT) maps the exact extent of the tumour and finalises the surgical and reconstruction plan.
- Neoadjuvant treatment, if neededIf your case calls for chemotherapy before surgery, this is completed and the tumour reassessed before scheduling the operation.
- Anaesthesia and tumour removalUnder general anaesthesia, the surgeon removes the tumour along with a margin of healthy surrounding tissue, carefully preserving nearby nerves and blood vessels wherever possible.
- Reconstructing the limbThe resulting bone or tissue defect is reconstructed using a megaprosthesis, bone graft, or biological technique, chosen based on the tumour's location and extent.
- Confirming marginsThe removed specimen is sent for pathological analysis to confirm the tumour margins are clear.
- Recovery and rehab planningYou are moved to recovery, physiotherapy begins under guidance appropriate to your reconstruction, and you go home with a rehabilitation plan and, if needed, a schedule for adjuvant chemotherapy.
Recovery and what to expect
- First 48-72 hoursPain is managed actively; positioning and early guided movement begin as appropriate to your specific reconstruction.
- Days 4-6Discharged from hospital once pain is controlled and initial mobility guidance is understood, moving to structured outpatient physiotherapy.
- 1-2 weeksContinued recovery and physiotherapy at your accommodation in India, with a wound check before flying home.
- 6-12 weeksProgressive weight-bearing and strengthening, with the pace guided by your specific reconstruction type and surgeon's advice.
- 3-12 monthsContinued functional improvement, alongside any planned adjuvant chemotherapy, with long-term follow-up imaging to monitor for recurrence.
Specialists who perform this
Where it is done
Frequently asked questions
Will I definitely be able to keep my limb?
How is the bone reconstructed after the tumour is removed?
Will I need chemotherapy as well as surgery?
How long do I need to stay in India?
Will I be able to walk or use my limb normally afterward?
What's the difference between an imported and an Indian-made implant?
Why is limb salvage surgery so much cheaper in India than in my home country?
What would your Limb Salvage Surgery cost?
Send your reports and a senior specialist sends back a written plan with costs within 24 hours. Free, with no obligation.