[Primary and secondary microsurgical reconstruction in soft tissue sarcomas]

The reconstruction after soft tissue sarcoma resection is sometimes essential to enable radical R0 resection, limb salvage, satisfactory functional outcomes and timely adjuvant treatment. In a retrospective cohort of 76 soft tissue reconstructions of the lower limbs, predominantly following external resections, wound coverage was consistently performed in a staged manner with a mean interval of 18 days; in more than half of the cases this interval was ≤14 days. A comprehensive review of the scientific literature on soft tissue reconstruction after soft tissue sarcoma resection was conducted. Key prerequisites for maximum oncological safety and reconstructive reliability without delaying adjuvant therapy are plastic and reconstructive expertise within the sarcoma center, expedited pathological margin assessment and close collaboration with vascular surgery and radiotherapy.