Pathological fractures in primary bone sarcomas
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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Modeling Primary Bone Tumors and Bone Metastasis with Solid Tumor Graft Implantation into Bone
Published on: September 9, 2020
Panayiotis J Papagelopoulos1, Andreas F Mavrogenis, Olga D Savvidou
1First Department of Orthopaedics, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece. pjp@hol.gr
Abstract:
Pathological fractures in patients with primary bone sarcomas should not be considered an absolute indication for amputation. Initial fracture management should include cast immobilisation or external fixation avoiding tumour-cell dissemination. The extent of fracture displacement and the type of fracture stabilisation may affect the outcome of patients with primary bone sarcomas presenting with pathological fractures. Patients with high-grade primary bone sarcomas should be treated by neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, and limb-salvage surgery. Pathological fractures in chemo-resistant primary bone sarcomas are a relative contraindication for limb salvage surgery.
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