Abstract
Purpose: To assess the functional outcome of patients who pre-operatively, were known to have sciatic nerve tumour involvement and proceeded to have nerve-preserving planned marginal excision with epineurectomy.
Methods: We identified patients who had surgery between 1997 and 2004, for soft tissue sarcomas in the posterior thigh with known sciatic nerve involvement. During this period it was the practice of the senior authors (MG & HG) to apply a nerve-preserving epineurectomy approach as part of their planned marginal excision of these tumours.
The identified patients had their notes reviewed, and were contacted by post to complete a Toronto Extremity Severity Score (TESS) questionnaire to assess lower limb function in day-to-day life. Details of their presenting features, oncological work-up, surgical intervention and adjuvant therapy was established and correlated to the TESS score.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a careful epineurectomy can preserve sciatic nerve function and allow tumour excision with no increase in local recurrence rate. With good soft tissue cover it appears nerve function can be maintained, even in cases where adjuvant radiotherapy is indicated.
Correspondence should be addressed to BOOS at the Royal College of Surgeons, 35 - 43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PN
