Abstract
812 consecutive patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity were studied to compare the characteristics and outcome of patients who had primary amputations and limb preserving surgery.
Patients with primary amputations were more likely to have metastases at presentation, high-grade tumours, larger tumours and were older.
The most frequent indications for primary amputation were tumour excision which would result in inadequate function and large extracompartmental tumours with composite tissue involvement including major vessels, nerves and bone.
The requirement for primary amputation was a poor prognostic factor independent of tumour grade, tumour size and patients’ age.
The abstracts were prepared by Mr Simon Donell. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Department of Orthopaedics, Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, Level 4, Centre Block, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY, United Kingdom
