(P 220) THE IMPACT OF WOUND HEALING COMPLICATIONS ON PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES FOLLOWING SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA SURGERY

Objective: Surgical resection of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) carries a risk of wound healing complications (WHCs), which can delay recovery, increase healthcare utilization, and require additional surgical interventions. While prior studies have evaluated surgical and oncologic outcomes, fewer have assessed how WHCs affect the patient experience. This study aimed to use validated patient-reported outcome measures to assess the short-term impact of WHCs on physical and mental health.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively collected, multi-institutional cohort of adults with extremity or trunk STS treated with limb-sparing surgery between 2017–2025. Only patients amenable to primary closure were included. WHCs were defined as seroma, infection, dehiscence, or return to the operating room. PROMIS Global Physical and Mental Health T-scores were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively.

Results: Among 76 patients, 45 (59%) experienced a WHC, and 16 (21%) required reoperation. Patients with WHCs had significantly lower mental health scores at 3 months (mean 50.0 vs. 55.5, p = 0.036), indicating early psychological impact, although scores equalized by 6 months. Physical function trended lower in WHC patients at 3 months but did not reach statistical significance.

Patients who underwent reoperation experienced a more sustained decline in physical health. At 6 months, physical T-scores were significantly lower for reoperation patients (44.8 vs. 52.9, p = 0.020), with a trend toward worse mental health as well. Baseline scores were similar across groups.

Conclusion: WHCs are associated with transient declines in mental health during early recovery, while reoperations are associated with prolonged physical impairment. These findings highlight the need for proactive counseling and tailored postoperative care for patients at risk of complications following STS surgery.

PROMIS Scores Stratified by Reoperation Status