The Identification of Risk Factors in the Development of Wound Healing Complications in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients.
This single-institution retrospective study of 318 soft tissue sarcoma patients reports a 30.8% wound-healing complication rate, identifies clinical and treatment-associated risk factors, and observes a grade-stratified association between chemotherapy and fewer complications.
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This single-institution retrospective study of 318 soft tissue sarcoma patients reports a 30.8% wound-healing complication rate, identifies clinical and treatment-associated risk factors, and observes a grade-stratified association between chemotherapy and fewer complications.
Research significance
Evidence: wound-healing complications were associated with several disease and surgical variables, while chemotherapy appeared protective after stratification by tumor grade. Inference: validated risk models might support perioperative treatment planning, but the record does not establish that chemotherapy prevents wound complications or should be used for that purpose.
Source abstract
Wound-healing complications (WHCs) remain a significant challenge in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) surgery, contributing to increased morbidity, prolonged hospitalisation, and impaired functional outcomes. This study aimed to identify predictors of WHC development in STS patients to improve therapeutic strategies and patient recovery. We conducted a single-institution, retrospective analysis of 318 STS patients treated between April 2019 and June 2021. Variables assessed included demographic data, tumour characteristics, treatment modalities, surgical interventions, and follow-up outcomes. Statistical analyses used chi-square tests, Kaplan-Meier estimates, and multivariate regression. WHCs occurred in 30.8% of patients. Significant negative predictors included high tumour grade (p = 0.018), presence of metastasis (p < 0.001), bone tissue resection (p = 0.005), number of revision procedures (p < 0.001), secondary wound closure (p < 0.001), and tumour relapse frequency (p = 0.012). WHCs were also associated with increased risk of death (p = 0.004) and longer initial hospitalisation (p < 0.001). Chemotherapy showed a protective effect when stratified by tumour grade. Patients with high-grade tumours and multiple surgical interventions represent a high-risk group for WHC development. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing treatment reevaluation and suggest that chemotherapy may offer beneficial outcomes in selected cases.