The surgical treatment of bone metastases.

The Authors consider the surgical treatment of 122 patients (125 operations) with metastatic lesions of the skeleton. They outline the most commonly used surgical techniques (arthro- and endoprostheses, endomedullary implants, plates). Operations need to be planned with special standards and methods since the bone tissue is undergoing serious structural changes and the patients need rapid rehabilitation. To this end, the utility is emphasized of the substitution with prostheses even of extensive skeletal segments and the use of acrylic cement is recommended to replace loss of substance caused by neoplastic osteolysis. The results obtained are classified as good, fair and bad according to the degree of solidity of the synthesis obtained, disappearance or relief of pain and recovery of function. The complications are discussed and the incidence of survival.