Abstract Between January 1988 and October 1993, 189 patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and trunk underwent surgery and since 1988, patients in whom the initial operation did not achieve safe margins underwent reoperation (67 of the 189). At re-excision an en bloc resection of the area with wide margins was achieved in 59 patients. Residual tumour was found in 30 specimens (45 per cent). Thirty-six patients received postoperative radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. After a mean follow-up of 32 (range 1–69) months five patients (7 per cent) had local recurrence. In view of the high rate of local recurrence after local excision of soft tissue sarcoma (70–90 per cent), primary re-excision is indicated after an inadequate initial operation.