Variants of hemipelvectomy and their complications

Hip disarticulation for recurrent vulvar cancer in the groin

A patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva treated with a radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal and femoral lymphadenectomies utilizing separate groin incisions, subsequently developed a recurrence in the skin bridge between the vulvar and groin excisions. Following groin irradiation with chemosensitization, the tumor progressed to involve the superior public ramus and femoral vessels. A left hip disarticulation and resection of a portion of the superior pubic ramus was performed. The patient has been free of disease for 3 years. The advantages of this procedure over a hemipelvectomy include shorter operative time, reduced blood loss, better fascial closure of the abdomen, and the creation of a stump which is more amendable to prosthetic fitting.

Posthemipelvectomy hernia

We present four patients who developed posthemipelvectomy hernias. Identified etiologic factors include infection at the time of hemipelvectomy, radiation therapy, and excessive weight gain. Two patients were reconstructed using local tissues, and two required prosthetic materials. There were no hernia recurrences, although two patients died of recurrent cancer.

Major amputations done with palliative intent in the treatment of local bony complications associated with advanced cancer

Palliative amputations were performed on 11 patients (7 men, 4 women) with disseminated disease to control local bony complications. The average patient age was 54 years (range 14-78 years). The primary diseases were melanoma/sarcoma (seven patients) and carcinoma (four patients). All had pain; eight had intractable pain that could not be controlled by analgesics. All 11 patients had additional severe local complications, which included recurrent pathological fracture (4), sepsis (2), hemorrhage (2), radiation necrosis (2), and iliofemoral thrombosis secondary to tumor (1). Previous attempts of palliation had been made in all 11 patients, and 8 had undergone previous operative procedures (5 had undergone two or more) prior to amputation. Three anterior hemipelvectomies, five posterior hemipelvectomies, two hip disarticulations, and one forequarter amputation were performed. All patients survived the surgery, and there were no intraoperative complications. All patients received dramatic relief of pain. Postoperative complications included two cases of flap necrosis and two infections; all resolved satisfactorily. The six patients who were nonambulatory before surgery ambulated postoperatively, and two eventually ambulated with a prosthesis. Six of 11 patients survived 1 year or longer, with a median postoperative survival period of 13 months (average 16 months). Although major amputations are viewed at times as offering little to already-compromised patients, they can improve dramatically the quality of life in selected patients.