[Does the metastatic behavior of sarcomas of the hand justify function-maintaining intervention?].

The dangers are emphasised of conservative surgery for soft-tissue malignancy of the hand, based on three cases. In the first, a fibrosarcoma which had developed in a longstanding fistula was treated by partial amputation, lymph node dissection and radiotherapy. Two recurrences arose locally at a later juncture.

[Radiation injuries of the hand--case report].

Severe damage to functionally important structures of the hand as a direct result of megavoltage radiation may be seen. The appropriate treatment of these uncommon acute and chronic radiation changes consists in principle or excision and skin flap covering. Such treatment will limit the functional disability of the hand.