The surgical technique for hindquarter amputation. A report of 19 cases.

The surgical technique for hindquarter amputation is described in a step-by-step manner. Since 1955 we have performed 19 such operations for eradication of malignant bone and soft tissue tumors in the pelvic, hip and upper thigh regions. Three hindquarter amputations were performed for local recurrence following initial wide excision. The overall 5-year survival rate for our 19 patients was 42.1 per cent. Malignant soft tissue tumors appear to have a much better 5-year survival rate than malignant bone tumors (60 per cent vs. 22.2 percent). We feel that surgery is still the treatment of choice. However, in the presence of proper indications, chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be added to surgery in order to prolong survival time and save lives.