Hip disarticulation with pedicled total leg fillet flap for recurrent fungating sarcoma

Abstract

Soft tissue sarcomas may be treated with limb-sparing procedures in the majority of cases; however, certain cases involving significant tumor spread and fungation may call for amputation. In the thigh, hip disarticulation typically involves a pedicled gluteus maximus flap or a pedicled anterior quadriceps flap. In this case report, we describe a rare situation in which the anterior flap, posterior flap, and adductor flap musculature were contaminated with tumor; therefore, a hip disarticulation was performed applying a pedicled total leg fillet flap for closure. Eighteen months after treatment, the patient continues to have no local recurrence of disease, a stable flap site, and ambulates with a walker. We present this amputation and closure method as a potentially effective modality in treating extensive oncologic disease of the proximal lower extremity.