Malignant acetabular osteolyses: percutaneous injection of acrylic bone cement

Percutaneous osteoplasty with acrylic bone cement was performed in 12 acetabular osteolytic lesions in 11 patients with inoperable metastases (n = 8) and myeloma (n = 3). Complementary radiation therapy was started 15-30 days after injection in each case. Pain diminished within hours to 4 days in nine patients, and walking improved in each patient within 1-5 days. Five patients died during the follow-up period. Clinical improvement was maintained in all but two patients.