Abstract:
Background: Forequarter amputation is an uncommon procedure. It is performed for high grade sarcomas
of the proximal humerus, scapula and axillary region; that are not responding to induction chemotherapy
or tumour progression with vascular invasion.
Objective: To document the indications and results of forequarter amputations done at the Moi Teaching
and Referral Hospital.
Methods: Records of patients that had received a forequarter amputation in Moi Teaching and Referral
Hospital between February 2012 and February 2017 were retrieved. The patient’s demographics, indication
for surgery, complications and duration of survival post-operatively were noted and further analyzed.
Results: A total of twelve patients were found that had a forequarter amputation done on their upper
extremity. Eight were male while four were female. Ten patients (83.3%) were operated on for sarcomas
including: synovial sarcoma, neurofibrosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma,
enchondroma, osteosarcoma and poorly differentiated sarcoma. Two patients (15.4%) were operated for
squamous cell carcinoma. All the amputations were primary surgeries. Survival was 77.7% at six months
and 44.4% after one year.
Conclusion: The most common indication for forequarter amputation was a limb sarcoma. A one-year
survival rate of 44.4% was found following forequarter amputation of a limb.
