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Background: Whether the timing of stoma reversal after emergency diversion for obstructive left‐sided colon cancer affects patient outcomes is unknown. Our study compared the short‐ and long‐term outcomes of two‐ and three‐stage operations for obstructive left‐sided colon cancer. Methods: Patients with obstructive left‐sided colon cancer who underwent staged resection at a referral hospital between January 2002 and December 2015 were retrospectively identified. Patient demographics and outcomes were analysed and compared between the two groups. Statistical significance was set as p < 0.05. Results: A total of 191 patients were reviewed. The overall complication rate was higher for two‐stage surgery than for three‐stage surgery (57.1% versus 36.0%, p < 0.01). Surgical site infection and/or wound dehiscence were the most common complications. Other complications, including anastomotic leakage, ileus, and bowel obstruction, were not significantly different between the two groups. The five‐year overall survival and disease‐free survival in stage II and III patients were comparable. Conclusion: Among patients with obstructive left‐sided colon cancer who underwent staged resection, two‐stage surgery was associated with a higher complication rate, especially for surgical site infection and/or wound dehiscence, which could be managed by local treatment. The timing of stoma reversal was not associated with survival differences in patients with stage II and III disease. However, issues such as the location of the tumour and diverting stoma, along with the need to resect other upper abdominal organs, should all be considered when deciding between two‐ and three‐stage surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]