[Interscapulothoracic amputation in treating malignant tumors of the upper extremity and shoulder girdle]

Fifty one patients with bone sarcomas (42 cases) and soft tissue sarcomas (9 cases) were subjected to interscapulo-thoracic amputation. Five year survival was noted in 42,5% of cases with primary bone sarcomas. The survival was dependent first of all on the histologic character of the tumor: it is higher in chondrosarcomas (50,2%) and lower in osteosarcomas (25,4%). Interscapulo-thoracic amputation is an obligatory but helpful surgical intervention.