Reconstruction following limb-sparing en bloc resection of the shoulder girdle--Tikhoff-Linberg procedure.

The Tikhoff-Linberg procedure is a limb salvage technique that permits a resection of the shoulder girdle with preservation of neuromuscular function of the upper extremity. Though shoulder movements are lost, useful wrist and hand functions are retained. Reconstruction was carried out in four patients to provide stability and thus facilitating function. To date, there is no local recurrence but one patient with osteosarcoma succumbed from lung metastasis within one year of surgery.