title: Quality of life following surgery for vertebral metastases from breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The quality of life of patients with vertebral metastases from breast cancer treated with surgery was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven such patients underwent surgery for vertebral metastases following chemoendocrine treatment. They presented with pain and some with neurological compromise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following posterior stabilization with a segmental instrument, pain was alleviated in all seven women, two showed improvements in neurological compromise, and performance status was improved in five. In no patient was there neurological deterioration secondary to surgical intervention. They were out of bed on the 4th postoperative day and discharged on the 14th day on average.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The quality of life was improved for these surgically treated patients. We recommend surgical stabilization for selected patients with a vertebral metastasis from breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Fukuoka City Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okuyama
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Korenaga
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurose
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimachi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*