title: Palliative care in orthopaedic surgical oncology.
abstract: Hundreds of thousands of Americans are affected every year by skeletal complications of oncologic disease. Recent developments in medical oncology, radiation oncology and radiology, particularly with respect to the use of bisphosphonate medication and radiofrequency techniques, have served to greatly lessen the morbidity associated with metastatic skeletal disease. Similarly, there has been significant advancement in the field of orthopaedic oncology in the areas of internal fixation, endoprosthetic implant design, and minimally invasive kyphoplasty technology. Given the palliative intent of intervention in this patient population, the goal of treatment of skeletal metastases must be optimization of limb function and ultimately, quality of life.
authors: UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, Orthopaedic Oncology Service, 1600 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94115-1939, USA.
authors: Pamela M
authors: PM
authors: Aubert
authors: Richard J
authors: RJ
authors: O'Donnell
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D011859:Radiography