Surgical treatment of pathologic fractures from metastatic tumors of long bones

Surgical treatment of 74 cases of impending and established metastatic pathologic fractures were analyzed. On the basis of various reports, the incidence of bone lesions, bone-seeking primary tumors, lesion sites, diagnostic techniques and possibilities, as well as indications for and methods of surgical treatment, are surveyed. Surgical intervention is only one aspect of the different components of general treatment in bone metastases. An aggressive surgical procedure yields very satisfactory results in most cases, compared with those of conservative treatment.