[Thoraco-scapular amputation in sarcomas of the shoulder girdle]

A total of 121 patients with sarcomas localized to the shoulder girdle were referred to the Sarcoma Centre in Arhus. Of these, 17 (14%) underwent interscapulothoracic amputation. At the time of treatment, the average age was 51 years (17-82 years). Eleven of these patients had sarcomas of bone and six had soft tissue sarcomas. Late diagnosis or previous surgical interventions contributed to the indication for the mutilating procedure. At the time of referral, six of the 11 cases of bone sarcomas were complicated by a pathological fracture and all six soft tissue sarcomas had been submitted to incisional biopsy or non-radical treatment. The soft tissue sarcomas were usually large with an average maximum diameter of 10 cm (4-15 cm). Postoperative recovery was uncomplicated in all cases. Local recurrence occurred in three patients (18%). Eight patients (47%) developed metastases and died from the tumour on an average of 32 months (7-94 months) after operation. Two patients died from other causes without tumour. Seven patients (41%) were tumourfree and alive for an average of 69 months (21-128 months) after operation. Only three of these seven patients wore their shoulder-arm prosthesis regularly while the remainder preferred to be either without a prosthesis or to use a lightweight shoulder prosthesis. None of the seven patients still experienced phantom pain necessitating analgetics. All of the patients were self-reliant in everyday life and the five patients who had been occupationally active until the time of operation had returned to work. The prognosis after interscapulothoracic amputation depends upon the primary malignant disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)