Vascular control for a forequarter amputation of a massive fungating humeral osteosarcoma

Forequarter amputation is a radical operation performed for treatment of malignant neoplasms of the shoulder girdle not amenable to limb salvage. Traditional approaches involve bone and soft tissue resection, followed by ligation of the axillary vessels. We describe a technique to minimize blood loss whereby control of the subclavian vessels is performed before amputation of a large tumor associated with extensive venous congestion. A 34-year-old man presented with proximal humeral osteosarcoma. Surgery involved claviculectomy to facilitate vascular control of the subclavian vessels, followed by guillotine amputation at the proximal upper arm level and completion of the amputation as conventionally described.