Limb-sparing techniques, also known as limb-saving or limb-salvage techniques, are performed in order to preserve the look and function of limbs. Limb-sparing techniques are used to preserve limbs affected by trauma, arthritis, cancers such as high-grade bone sarcomas, and vascular conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers. As the techniques for chemotherapy, radiation, and diagnostic modalities improve, there has been a trend toward limb-sparing procedures to avoid amputation, which has been associated with a lower 5-year survival rate and cost-effectiveness compared to limb salvage in the long-run. There are many different types of limb-sparing techniques, including arthrodesis, arthroplasty, endoprosthetic reconstruction, various types of implants, rotationplasty, osseointegration limb replacement, fasciotomy, and revascularization. Arthrodesis Arthrodesis is the surgical immobilization of bones within a joint to promote fusion of the joint. Arthrodesis is performed most commonly on joints of the feet, hands, and spine. Arthrodesis can relieve pain from arthritis and fractures. This is accomplished through the use of orthobiologics such as allografts and autografts. Allografts are done by creating bone grafts from a donor bone bank, whereas autografts are bone grafts from other bones in a patient's body. Patient-reported outcomes following this procedure are typically positive in terms of long-term pain relief; however, the procedure also results in decreased range of motion. Arthroplasty Arthroplasty, otherwise known as joint replacement, is a surgical procedure which involves resurfacing, realignment, or removal of bone at a joint interface to restore the joint's function. Arthroplasty is often performed on hips, knees, shoulders, and ankles to improve range of motion and relieve pain from arthritis or trauma. Arthroplasty of the shoulder is one of the most common of these procedures, although it has only been widely used since 1955. Themistocles Gluck is thought to have created the first shoulder arthroplasty in the 1800s. Since Gluck never published any results or notes on the procedure, Jules-Emile Pean is credited with performing the first shoulder arthroplasty in 1893. Implants Alloprosthetic composites Alloprosthetic composites are a combination of multiple limb-sparing techniques, namely allografts and prosthesis. Allografts are used to replace the bone that has been "resected" using arthroplasty techniques, and then prosthesis is used to support and strengthen the allografts. Alloprosthetic composites are flexible in that surgeons can adapt the implants for any situation. Prosthetic implants Prosthetic implants are used when sections of bone must be replaced and no further growth is expected. Implants are mostly made from metals, but the