Compartment-specific clinical outcomes in patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the thigh.

Abstract

e23549 Background: Approximately one-third of all soft tissue sarcomas develop in the thigh, and the risk factors for developing a complication after soft tissue sarcoma resection include the tumour’s location in the lower extremity. This study analysed the relationship between various factors, particularly tumour location and clinical outcome, in patients with primary soft tissue sarcoma of the thigh. Methods: Patients who underwent wide excision of soft tissue sarcomas of the thigh without metastasis at the time of the initial visit between January 2006 and March 2018 were included in the study. Seventy-four patients were included in this retrospective study. The relationships between variables and prognosis were statistically analysed. Results: The mean patient age was 58.7 years (10–86 years), the mean follow-up period was 75 months (24–173 months). A total of 37 tumours were predominantly located in the anterior compartment of the thigh, 17 in the medial compartment, and 20 in the posterior compartment. Multivariate analysis of the patient clinical data demonstrated that seromas developed more often in the medial compartment tumours and postoperative complications excluding seroma occurred more frequently in patients with two or more muscles resected or stage III tumours. A low Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was associated with a long operative time (more than 120 min), anterior compartment tumours, and more than two muscle resections. In addition, soft tissue sarcomas in the medial compartment and stage III sarcomas were associated with a low 5-year metastasis-free survival. Conclusions: Soft tissue sarcomas in the medial compartment were associated with postoperative seroma and metastasis, whereas sarcomas in the anterior compartment correlated with low postoperative function. Surgeons should be aware of compartment-specific clinical outcomes in patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the thigh.[Table: see text]