Plastic surgeon involvement during STS resection significantly reduces wound healing complications
The involvement of plastic surgeons during soft tissue sarcoma (STS) resection can significantly reduce 90-day wound healing complications, according to a study that found patients who had plastic surgeon intervention experienced similar complication rates compared to those without plastic surgery involvement, despite longer operative times and hospital stays.
The study included adult patients who underwent index STS resection. The main outcomes examined were 90-day same-site reoperation, any-cause readmission, and wound healing complications.
Multivariate regression analysis identified plastic surgery intervention as a significant protector against 90-day wound healing complications.
The study identified operative time and hospital length of stay as additional risk factors for 90-day wound healing complications. It was also found that tumor stage and operative time were predictors of 90-day readmission.
Patients who underwent resection with the involvement of a plastic surgeon experienced similar primary outcomes compared to those without plastic surgery intervention, despite longer operative times (220 ± 182 vs 108 ± 67 minutes) and hospital length of stay (3.99 ± 3.69 vs 1.36 ± 1.97 days).
Reference
Wu SA, deVries JA, Plantz MA, et al. Immediate Plastic Surgery Intervention after Soft Tissue Sarcoma Resection: Examining Wound Healing, Readmission, and Reoperation. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2023;11(6):e4988. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004988. PMID: 37305195; PMCID: PMC10256372.
