Metastatic fractures of the tibia.

Pathologic fractures of the tibia due to a metastasis are rare. The treatment of an established fracture is sometimes conservative, but more often surgical. The purpose of the surgical procedure is to improve the quality of life and the ambulatory status, to relieve pain and to facilitate activities of daily living and nursing care. Four cases of operatively managed metastatic fractures of the tibia are presented with emphasis on the surgical technique. The scarce literature on metastatic tibial fractures in reviewed. The operative technique to be used does not only depend on the location of the tumor but also on the primary tumor, the response to adjuvant therapy and the life expectancy. For metastatic shaft fractures an intramedullary nail, sometimes augmented with bone cement, is preferred. For distal or proximal fractures a compound osteosynthesis with plates and screws offers a good solution. In the epiphyseal and metaphyseal region of the tibia an amputation or a tumor prosthesis is the procedure of choice.