Microvascular reconstructions after extensive soft tissue sarcoma resections in the upper limb.
OBJECTIVE
Limb-sparing surgery combined with radiotherapy (RT) is the basis of extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of microvascular reconstruction after extensive tumour resections in the upper extremity.


METHODS
Twenty patients with STS of the upper extremity were treated with excision and microvascular reconstruction. RT was administered if surgical margins were less than 25 mm. Results were evaluated retrospectively.


RESULTS
Twenty free flaps were performed and no flaps were lost. There was no operative mortality, and wound complication rate was 15%. Median follow-up length was 74 months. Five-year local recurrence-free survival was 57%, metastasis-free survival 67%, disease-free survival 45% and disease-specific overall survival 80%. Ten patients had no or only mild impairment of upper extremity function, seven had impaired function affecting daily life, and three patients underwent amputation. For patients treated with curative intent, limb salvage rate was 94%.


CONCLUSIONS
Free flaps are useful and reliable in the treatment of patients with STS of the upper extremity. Without microvascular reconstruction limb salvage would have been impossible in these patients. Oncological outcome is comparable to other extremity STS patients and upper extremity function is acceptable.
Barner-Rasmussen
I
I
Department of Plastic Surgery, Töölö Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, PO 266, 00029 HUS, Finland. ian.barner-rasmussen@helsinki.fi
Popov
P
P
Böhling
T
T
Blomqvist
C
C
Tukiainen
E
E
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D055806:Microvessels / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D034941:Upper Extremity