[Functional results following conservative and surgical therapy of pathologic fractures in malignant diseases]

From 1972-1982 149 pathological fractures in 91 patients were treated. 134 of these were caused by malignant disease. With 78% metastases were the most common cause for fractures. 59% of the patients were women. The most frequent fracture localisation was the femur followed by ribs and humerus. 62% of the fractures but 100% of the leg fractures were treated operatively. The best functional results were achieved after compound osteo-synthesis. The mean survival time of the patients was 10.7 months. The one year survival rate was 24.6% and the two year survival rate was 9.2%. The best survival rates were observed in women, patients with breast cancer metastases, femur shaft- or subtrochanteric fractures. The lowest survival rate was found in male patients, patients with unknown primary tumour and femur neck fractures.