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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
08:49
Models of Bone Metastasis
Published on: September 4, 2012
Bone metastasis and rehabilitation
1Department of Oncology Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
Cancer
|August 24, 2001
Summary
Rehabilitation for cancer patients with bone metastases is safe and effective. Standard approaches can improve function without significantly increasing the risk of pathologic fractures, even with existing bone lesions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Cancer metastasis to bone frequently causes functional impairments.
- Rehabilitation professionals worry about inducing pathologic fractures during treatment.
- Methods exist to identify bone lesions at risk of fracture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review methods for identifying bone lesions at risk of fracture.
- To analyze the risk associated with rehabilitating patients with bone metastases.
- To discuss the outcomes of rehabilitation in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Review of proposed methods for identifying fracture risk in malignant bone lesions.
- Statistical analysis of these identification methods.
- Review of reported outcomes and standard rehabilitation approaches.
Main Results:
- Current methods for identifying fracture risk are limited, primarily to long bones.
- The risk of inducing pathologic fractures through increased mobility is low.
- Rehabilitation after surgical repair of fractures yields satisfactory outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Rehabilitation for cancer patients with bone metastases is safe and effective.
- Standard rehabilitation approaches can be used.
- Functional improvements are achievable with minimal risk of induced fracture.
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