title: Evaluation of impending fractures and indications for prophylactic fixation of metastases in long bones. Review of the literature.
abstract: This paper reviews the current literature on metastatic lesions most likely to result in a pathologic fracture of a long bone. Prophylactic surgery is recommended in the following situations: Persisting or increasing local pain despite the completion of radiation therapy; permeative involvement; a solitary well-defined lytic lesion greater than 2.5 cm; a solitary well-defined lytic lesion circumferentially involving more than 50% of the cortex; metastatic involvement of the proximal femur associated with a fracture of the lesser trochanter.
authors.affiliation: Dienst Orthopedie & Traumatologie, Akademisch Ziekenhuis VUB, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haentjens
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Casteleyn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Opdecam
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography