[Current orientations in the treatment of bone metastases]

Bone metastases are the most frequently occurring tumours of the skeletal system. Clinically, diagnosis is important but more so the treatment, taking into account the type of lesion, its localization and diffusion. Early and combined treatment by general surgeon, radiotherapist and orthopaedic surgeon will provide a longer survival rate and relative physical and psychological well-being for the patient. Following the diffusion on surgical techniques designed to cope with tumor in different bones the wait-and-see attitude of the past has been abandoned. More vigorous attempts to excise metastatic tumours and aims at reconstruction and substitution of weightbearing bones by means of modern methods of osteosynthesis and application of prostheses, can be achieved. The more controversial clinical and radiological aspects and the results of 281 cases, seen at the Clinica Ortopedica of the University of Padua, are illustrated.