[General principles and techniques of osteosynthesis in pathologic fractures].

Skeletal metastasis and pathologic fractures are signs of progressing neoplastic disease, but they are not life-threatening events. Stabilization is necessary to diminish pain and to maintain mobility. Principles of surgical stabilization include rigidity for long-term functional use, nondependence on bone healing and salvage of as much bone as possible to maintain muscle attachment for limb function. This is achieved by integrating bone, polymethylmetacrylate and implant into a solid unit. In the treatment of pathologic fractures not caused by malignancy biologic factors such as bone transplantation play a predominant role. In case of infection stability and vascularity of the bone is of utmost importance. Vascularity is achieved by pediculed or free-tissue transfer.