Various types of hemipelvectomy for soft tissue sarcomas: complications, survival and prognostic factors

Fifty-three hemipelvectomies were performed for primary or recurrent soft tissue sarcomas with fixation to the pelvis or peripelvic tissues. Resection was carried out in the absence of distant metastases in 70% of the cases. The hemipelvectomy was posterior in 66%, anterior in 6% and internal in 28%. Post-operative complications included wound edge necrosis in 19% and infection in 43% of cases. The mortality rate was 5.7%. Margins were macroscopically clear in 76% and marginal in 24% of cases. Tumours were high grade in 92%; their mean diameter was 16.5 cm. Local recurrence occurred in 19% and distant recurrence in 66% of patients. Overall survival was 39% at 2 years and 10% at 5 years. Pelvic soft tissue sarcomas have a poor prognosis. However, in the absence of other effective therapy, hemipelvectomy provides local control with acceptable morbidity in the majority of patients, with a small percentage (10%) surviving 5 years or longer.