Musculoskeletal oncology isn’t exactly known for big datasets — or simple cases. That’s why the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) Musculoskeletal Tumor Registry releasing its first-ever Annual Report is a pretty big deal.
The 2025 Musculoskeletal Tumor Registry Annual Report delivers the first national snapshot of real-world, physician-entered clinical data in musculoskeletal oncology. It includes 1,189 procedures submitted between 2016 and 2025 from 9 institutions, representing a 67% growth in data volume and a steady year-over-year increase in participation.
In registry terms, that’s momentum.
“This inaugural Musculoskeletal Tumor Registry Annual Report marks a pivotal moment for musculoskeletal oncology,” said Benjamin J. Miller, M.D., M.S., chair of the Musculoskeletal Tumor ReSteering Committee. “For the first time, we’re seeing high-quality, provider-entered data visualized at a national level.”
Why Tumor Surgeons Should Care
Sarcoma care lives at the intersection of rarity and complexity. Historically, most insights have come from single-center experiences and limited case series. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Registry changes the game by pooling standardized data across institutions — letting surgeons see how care is actually delivered in the real world.
This isn’t theory. It’s what your colleagues are doing right now.
What the Numbers Are Saying
The inaugural report breaks down patient demographics, tumor pathology, treatment approaches, device utilization, and outcomes. A few highlights worth noting. Patients aged 60–69 and 70–79 made up the largest groups in the dataset — familiar territory for anyone treating sarcoma.
Limb Salvage Is Still King
Limb salvage was performed in 91.1% of cases, underscoring how far reconstructive techniques have come in musculoskeletal oncology. Soft-tissue sarcomas were more commonly reported than bone sarcomas, with most tumors classified as high-grade (G3). Challenging cases remain the norm. Only 9% of biopsies were performed at the treating institution, while nearly one-third occurred at referring centers — highlighting opportunities to improve coordination and optimize patient pathways.
Implants in the Spotlight
Enhanced analytics allowed for more robust capture of device and manufacturer data. That means better evaluation of implant performance, improved safety monitoring, and smarter quality improvement efforts over time.
How Patients Leave the Hospital
Nearly 80% of patients were discharged home or to home-health services — an encouraging signal for perioperative care and recovery pathways.
Built for Surgeons, Built to Last
Developed in collaboration with the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, the Musculoskeletal Tumor Registry is designed to support quality improvement, research, and evidence-based decision-making in a field where data has traditionally been scarce.
As more institutions participate, the registry will continue to reveal patterns in care, variation in practice, and real-world outcomes that can inform how musculoskeletal oncologists treat some of the most complex cases in orthopaedics.
The Takeaway
Sarcoma surgery will never be simple — but understanding it just got a lot easier.
With the release of its first annual report, the AAOS Musculoskeletal Tumor Registry is giving orthopedic oncologists something they’ve long needed: national, physician-entered data that reflects real practice, real patients, and real outcomes.
Less guesswork. More insight. Better care.