[Surgical treatment of skeletal metastases]

The prevalence of cancerous diseases in Germany is rising. The skeletal system represents the third most common localization for metastases. Nearly two thirds of metastases are found in the region of the spine. Due to longer survival times of tumor patients in the metastasis stage, an increase in the number of patients with bone metastases is to be expected. The treatment of patients with osseus metastases is nowadays an integral component of orthopedic trauma surgery practices. This article presents the principles of the diagnostics, provides aids for estimation of the prognosis and danger of fractures and discusses the various surgical treatment procedures for skeletal metastases with the accompanying advantages and disadvantages.