[Tikhoff-Linberg interscapulothoracic resection in extra-compartmental tumors of the shoulder girdle]

Ninetten consecutive patients with bone and soft tissue tumors of the shoulder girdle were treated with interscapulothoracic resection (Tikhoff-Linberg procedure) over a 10-year period. Twelve patients were alive with no evidence of disease at a mean follow-up of 6.3 (1-11) years and one patient is alive with local recurrence and pulmonary metastases after 15 months. Six patients died due to pulmonary metastases. Despite these complications, the Tikhoff-Linberg procedure proved to be a valuable operation for extended tumors of the shoulder girdle in terms of functional and oncological outcome and is clearly superior to forequarter amputation.