[The choice of the extent of the surgical intervention in patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities].

The analysis of data on 446 patients with soft tissue malignancies showed overall five-year survival rate to be 48.9%. The extent of tissue to be removed during sparing surgery is specified. In case of intramuscular location of tumor, it is enough to leave a 4-5-cm margin above and below the tumor border, as assessed by palpation. Indications for limb amputation at various levels were developed. Limb-sparing surgery could be employed on a larger scale if advances of modern plastic (skin, bone and vascular) surgery were adopted wider. A complex of rehabilitative measures was developed. Patients undergoing limb amputation need early prosthetics.