title: Operative management of patients with non-spinal metastatic bone disease. Does it actually improve quality of life?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the survival rate and functional outcome of skeletal stabilisation in patients with metastatic bone disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of patients with non-spinal metastatic bone disease managed surgically from January 2002 to December 2010. All patients had been managed by experienced orthopaedic, oncology and multidisciplinary teams. Patients managed by non-oncologic orthopaedic surgeons were excluded. The prognostic influence of clinical, pathological and treatment variables on Musculoskeletal Tumour Society score, range of motion, local complications and death rate were measured. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 49 patients whose records were included in the study, 21(42.9%) males and 28(57.1%) females with an overall median age of 59 years. Most common primary tumour site was breast in 15(3.8%) followed by lungs in 11(22.4%), Open reduction and internal fixation was the mpst commonly used procedure in 18(36.7%) patients. Mean duration of follow-up was 30.20±29.2 SD months (range: 10-48 months). The median patient survival was 23 months. 23% patients have superficial surgical site infection. Mean Musculoskeletal Tumour Society score was 23.73±14.3 SD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirm the principle that surgery for metastatic disease is done primarily to improve quality of life and ambulation status, and to alleviate pain.
authors.affiliation: Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Umer
authors.affiliation: Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Yasir
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mohib
authors.affiliation: Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Hafiz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Umer
keywords: Metastatic Bone Disease, MSTS score, Survival.