Total sacrectomy and reconstruction: oncologic and functional outcome

The oncologic and functional outcomes of nine patients who were treated by total sacrectomy through L5 (three cases) or L5-S1 (six cases) were reviewed. Histologic diagnoses were one osteosarcoma, two giant cell tumors, two chondrosarcomas, and four chordomas. Patients' ages ranged from 17 to 70 years (mean age, 44.5 years). Resection margins were intralesional (giant cell tumors) in two, marginal in one, and wide in six patients (one contaminated). Reconstruction was performed using polymethylmethacrylate in two, screw and plate fixation in one, and a custom-made device in one. In five patients no reconstruction was performed. Five patients (45.5%) had wound complications: one had a wound dehiscence and two had deep infection; all needed surgical reintervention. In addition, in one a ventral and in another a dorsal hernia developed; only the ventral hernia was revised successfully. One patient had a deep vein thrombosis that was treated with a Coumadin derivate. Three patients (33%) died after 14, 18, and 50 months postoperatively respectively. One died of lung and widespread metastases, and two died of local recurrence and metastases. One patient with a giant cell tumor had a solitary lung metastasis. After resection the patient has been disease-free more than 90 months. At followup, six patients had no evidence of disease (mean followup, 73 months; range, 30-120 months). Functionally, there was no correlation between patients who had a reconstruction and those who had not. Total sacrectomy is a valuable procedure to secure local tumor control and overall survival, despite potential complications and neurologic and sexual dysfunction.