In 323 patients with 375 pathological fractures or impending fractures,
local tumor resection and internal fixation supplemented by intramedullary
methylmethacrylate proved highly successful. One hundred and thirty-nine
patients had metastases from breast carcinoma; 142, metastases from other
tumors; and forty-two, myeloma or lymphoma. The mean survival for the 210
patients who had undergone operation two years or more before final
evaluation was 15.4 months. Ninety-four per cent of the patients who were
ambulatory before fracture regained the ability to walk. Eighty-five per
cent had excellent or good pain relief and in only five was pain relief
rated poor. There were four failures of fixation and six functionally poor
results. Twenty patients died within four weeks of operation, but the
remaining patients benefited from the procedure in terms of pain relief,
improved mobility, and ease of nursing care.