Objective. To evaluate functional and oncological outcomes following sacral resection. Methods. A retrospective review was conducted of 97 sacral tumours referred to tertiary referral spinal or oncology unit between 2004 and 2009. Results. The study included Chordoma 26; Metastases 17; Chondrosarcoma 9; Osteosarcoma 8; Lymphoma 7; Ewing's Sarcoma 6; Giant Cell Tumours 5; Other Sarcomas 5; Aneurysmal Bone Cyst 4; Myeloma 4; Others 7. There were 61 males, 37 females with an average age of 47 (range 3-82). The average duration of pre-diagnosis symptoms was 13 months. In 17 cases the diagnosis was metastatic disease and these were excluded from further discussion. Of the remainder 36/81(44%) underwent surgery: 21 excision, 9 excision and instrumented stabilisation, and 6 curettage. Thirteen (16%) patients were inoperable: 8 advanced disease, 3 unable to establish local control and 2 cases of recurrence. Colostomy was performed in 11/21 (52%) patients who underwent excision. Deep wound infections in 6/21 (29%). No difference in infection rates between definitive surgery with or without colostomy – 3/11 (27%) vs 3/10 (30%). In the instrumented group, no colostomies were performed due to concerns about deep infection and none resulted (0/9).