Delayed femoral vein ligation reduces operative time and blood loss during hip disarticulation in patients with extremity tumors

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of delayed femoral vein ligation on the clinical outcomes of hip disarticulation. We retrospectively reviewed 20 patients with extremity tumors (10 bone tumors and 10 soft tissue sarcomas [STS]) who underwent hip disarticulation. Patients treated for hip disarticulation with synchronous femoral vein ligation (n = 10, regular surgery group) and hip disarticulation with delayed femoral vein ligation (n = 10, delayed ligation group), respectively, were enrolled in this study. The operative time and blood loss were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes. The delayed ligation group had significantly lower operative times than the regular surgery group (P < 0.05). Total, hidden, and intraoperative blood loss were all significantly lower in the delayed ligation group than in the regular surgery group (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in postoperative blood loss. In conclusion, delayed femoral vein ligation could significantly reduce the operative time, hidden blood loss, and intraoperative blood loss in patients undergoing hip disarticulation.