Surgical treatment for metastatic pathological fractures.

Pathological fractures of the long bones occur in 10–29% of patients with bone metastases. The occurrence of these fractures may alter management and prognosis, decrease quality of life and jeopardize survival [1–4]. The fracture hematoma may contaminate the adjacent soft tissue, nerves, vessels and joint, and damage to the microcirculation may favor distant hematogenous dissemination of the tumor [5]