Surgical Treatment of Pathologic Fracture of the Long Bone due to Metastatic Tumor

골전이로 인한 장골의 병적 골절의 수술적 치료

Metastatic cancer is the most common tumor of the skeleton. The prevalence of pathologic fracture may increase as patient survival is prolonged by improved cancer therapy. With recent advances in orthopaedic procedure and medical management of terminal cancer patients, it is generally agreed that aggressive treatment should be undertaken for patient with pathologic fracture secondary to metastatic disease, and a team approach should be utilized. The authors have reviewed twenty cases of pathologic fracture of the long bone due to metastatic tumor treated in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, from April 1989 to April 1994 and the following results were obtained. 1. The mean age at surgery was 58.4 years (ranged from 24years to 86years) and among 20 cases, 10 cases were male and the others were female. 2. The most frequent site of pathologic fracture in long bone is femur(15 cases, 75%), and followed by humerus(4 cases, 20%), tibia(1 case). 3. The frequently encountered primary tumors that metastases to long bone are those of the lung(7 cases, 35%), breast(4 cases, 20%), and prostate(2 cases, 10%). 4. The operative procedure was performed by resection of the tumor mass extensively, and we used polymethylmetacrylate for filling the dead space after resection, in all cases. 5. The mean survival period after operation is 9.2 months(ranged from 1 month to 4 years and 9 month). 6. The results of postoperative pain relief status were graded as fair to excellent in 17 cases(85%).