The surgical management of pathological fractures

Recent advances in radiotherapy and chemotherapy frequently prolong the life of patients with carcinomatosis, but the suffering and disability resulting from pathological fracture require aggressive local treatment in order to alleviate pain and restore skeletal stability. Out of 89 patients with 102 pathological fractures, 28 patients underwent surgery for 30 fractures. Radical local excision of tumour tissue and filling of the defect with methylmethacrylate was augmented by internal fixation. These procedures resulted in immediate and significant pain relief with consequent improvement in the quality of the patient's life.