24 Patients with soft tissue sarcomas were included in the present
study. Preoperative irradiation was performed in all patients before tumor
extirpation. Primary closure with vascularized tissue (flaps) was compared
with conventional wound closure by skin approximation and the first
Led to lesser complications (10 versus 50%) and shorter average hospitalization
(13 versus 25 days). Secondary procedures were more
frequently necessary after conventional closure than after flap closure
(30% versus 8.3 96). The conclusion is that vascularized tissue flaps for
primary wound closure in irradiated tissue leads to improved wound
healing, and should be considered the procedure of choice for covering
heavily irradinted defects after soft tissue sarcoma resection. |
