The femur is a common site for skeletal metastases. The Gamma2 nail has proved effective in relieving pain and restoring function. Little data exists on the use of the Gamma3 Long Nail (GLN) in this condition. Improved instrumentation is suggested to reduce operative time and facilitate minimally invasive surgery. This study reports a series of patients treated in a District General Hospital.

A retrospective casenote review was performed of all patients treated with the GLN for femoral metastatic disease over a five year period. Patients were followed-up for a minimum of one year. Functional level was assessed using the Parker Mobility Score (PMS).

12 patients underwent 15 nailings. Mean age was 75.4 years (median 75.7, range 61-92). In bilateral cases, the operations were performed during the same hospital admission. There were seven prophylactic nailings for impending fracture from proximal femoral lesions, seven procedures for actual fractures distal to the intertrochanteric line, and one basicervical fracture associated with multiple femoral metastases. Primaries were four prostate, two breast, two lung, one bowel, one bladder, one renal, and one myeloma.

Average anaesthetic time for all procedures was 134 mins (median 125, range 90-210). Average peri-operative drop in serum haemoglobin was 2.3g/dL (median 2.1, range 0.6-4.8). Five patients with actual fracture and one patient with impending fracture required blood transfusion, receiving 2.2 units on average.

In-hospital mortality rate was 0.83%, with only one patient not surviving to discharge. One year mortality was 83.3%. Only two patients were alive one year post-operation. Of the remaining patients, average survival was 3.2 months (median 3, range 1-6). Patients spent an average of 17 days on an acute orthopaedic unit (median 14, range 4-80). Two patients required further convalescence in a rehabilitation unit.

There were three surgical complications. Two impending fractures became complete, One intra-operatively and one post-operatively. In the case of basi-cervical fracture, the proximal screw cut out of the femoral head, requiring revision to a long-stem bipolar hemiarthroplasty. This was the only re-operation required in this series.

Average pre-operative PMS was 5.2 (median 4, range 2-9). Average peri-operative drop in PMS was two points (median 1.5, range 0-6). Of the 11 patients who survived to discharge, 10 were independently mobile and returned to their pre-operation residence. Nine required a change in walking aids. Only one patient reported post-operative pain.

This small patient series suggests that the Gamma3 Long Nail is a suitable treatment option for impending and actual metastatic femoral fractures in the District General setting. Length of stay, in-hospital mortality and re-operation rates compare favourably with published data on the Gamma2. There was a significant drop in Parker Mobility Score but all patients bar one were independently mobile and returned to their home. Anaesthetic time was not lower than with the Gamma2, suggesting little tangible benefit of the new instrumentation.

Aims

Surgery is often indicated in patients with metastatic bone disease (MBD) to improve pain and maximize function. Few studies are available which report on clinically meaningful outcomes such as quality of life, function, and pain relief after surgery for MBD. This is the published protocol for the Bone Metastasis Audit — Patient Reported Outcomes (BoMA-PRO) multicentre MBD study. The primary objective is to ascertain patient-reported quality of life at three to 24 months post-surgery for MBD.

Purpose: The mechanical integrity of vertebral bone is compromised when metastatic cancer cells migrate to the spine, rendering it susceptible to burst fracture under physiologic loading. Risk of burst fracture has been shown to be dependent on the magnitude of the applied load, however limited work has been conducted to determine the effect of load type on the stability of the metastatic spine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of multiple loading conditions and the presence of the ribcage on a metastatically-involved thoracic spinal motion segment.

Methods: A parametric biphasic finite element model was developed and validated against experimental data under axial compressive loading. Fifteen loading scenarios were analysed, including axial compression, flexion, extension, lateral bending, torsion, and combined loads. Axial loads were applied up to 800N and moment loads up to 2Nm. Multiple analyses were conducted with and without the ribcage to assess its impact on thoracic spinal stability. Vertebral bulge (VB) and load induced canal narrowing (LICN) were utilised as main outcome parameters to assess burst fracture risk.

Results: For single loads, pure 800N axial loading yielded the highest level of VB (0.48mm) and LICN (0.26mm). The smallest increases in VB were measured in 1Nm pure flexion (0.018mm). Combined loading scenarios also demonstrated that axial loading is the principal factor contributing to VB, as changes in VB for combined loads were no greater than 4.35% of VB under axial loading alone. Inclusion of the ribcage was found to reduce the potential for burst fracture by 27% under axial load.

Conclusions: Axial loading is the predominant load type leading to increased risk of burst fracture initiation. Rotational loading (bending, flexion and extension) led to only moderate increases in risk. The ribcage provides substantial stability to reduce overall risk of burst fracture. These findings are important in developing a more comprehensive understanding of burst fracture mechanics in the metastatic spine and in directing future modeling efforts. The results in this study may also be useful in advising less harmful activities for patients affected by lytic spinal metastases.

Funding : Other Education Grant

Funding Parties : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

Purpose: Osteosynthesis of complex subtrochanteric fractures is a difficult task. Complications are frequent and results are uncertain. Cemented fixation of pathological metastatic fractures requires a major intervention. The functional prognosis remains uncertain. Our objective was to evaluate the contribution of the long gamma nail (50 nails) in this type of situation and to determine its advantages and disadvantages. Material and methods: The 50 long gamma nails were inserted in 23 women and 26 men who were followed eight months (4–16). We implanted 39 long gamma nails for complex subtrochanteric fractures (AO classification) in patients aged 59 years on average (19–93) and eleven nails for metastatic femur fractures in patients aged 59 years on average (19–93) with a trochanterodiaphyseal localisation. For the non-metastatic fractures, closed nailing was used in 28 patients and minimum opening for eleven. For the metastatic fractures, the primary tumour was known in eleven cases. The nailing was a preventive measure in six and performed after fracture in five. Three patients had plurifocal fractures. We analysed 43 parameters (position of the cervical screw in the four quadrants of the femoral neck and clinical and radiological features). Results: For the 39 fractures, reduction was anatomic in 24 and with a gap in 15. The position of the cervical nail was correct in 34 cases. It was in the anterosuperior quadrant in three, the posterosuperior quadrant in one and the posteroinferior quadrant in one. Weight bearing was resumed at 1.5 months on average. Healing with total weight bearing was achieved at four months on average (maximum 8 months). Mechanical complications were: migration of the cephalic screw (n=4), rupture of the locking wings (n=9), nail fracture (n=1), non-union (n=2). Total pain relief was achieved for the eleven pathological fractures (maximum follow-up 16 months). Weight-bearing with crutches was possible in seven patients and not possible in four. There was no dismounting. Outcome was comparable with cemented osteosyntheses. Discussion: For pathological fractures, this less aggressive osteosynthesis provides very effective pain relief. For other complex subtrochanteric fractures, complete closed nailing was not always possible

Pathologic fractures about the hip are an uncommon, but increasingly prevalent, clinical scenario encountered by orthopaedic surgeons. These fractures about the hip usually necessitate operative management. Life expectancy must be taken into account in management, but if survivorship is greater than 1 month, operative intervention is indicated. Determination must be made prior to operative management if the lesion is a solitary or metastatic lesion. Imaging of the entire femur is necessary to determine if there are other lesions present. Bone lesions that have a large size, permeative appearance, soft tissue mass, and rapid growth are all characteristics that suggest an aggressive lesion. Biopsy of the lesion in coordination with the operative surgeon should be conducted if the primary tumor is unknown. Metastatic disease is much more common than primary tumors in the adult population. Many metastatic fractures in the intertrochanteric region, and all fractures in the femoral neck and head are an indication for hemiarthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty. Cemented femoral implants are generally indicated. This allows immediate weight bearing in a bone with compromised bone stock, thus reducing the risk of peri-operative fractures. Additionally, patients are often treated with radiation and/or chemotherapy, which may prevent proper osseointegration of an ingrowth femoral component. Highly porous ingrowth shells have been shown to provide reliable and durable fixation even in these situations. Management of a periacetabular pathologic fracture, particularly resulting in a pelvic discontinuity is a particularly challenging situation. Use of a highly porous acetabular component combined with an acetabular cage, a custom acetabular component, a cemented Harrington technique, or a primary acetabular reconstruction cage may be utilised. Patients with neoplastic disease are often at risk for infection and thromboembolic disease both from the disease and treatment. Pre-operative evaluation of nutrition status by measuring albumin and pre-albumin will give the surgeon insight. Additionally, dehydration is commonly seen in cancer patients, and adequate pre-operative optimization of fluids and electrolytes may reduce peri-operative complications from other organ systems

Early mortality in patients with hip fractures due to bony metastases is unknown. The aim was to quantify 30 and 90-day mortality in patients with metastatic hip fractures and identify markers associated with early death. Consecutive patients referred to orthopaedics with a metastatic proximal femoral fracture/impending fracture over a six-year period were compared to a matched control group of non-malignant hip fractures. Minimum follow-up was 1 year and data was analysed using the student´s t-test (significance p<0.05). From Jan 2010-Dec 2015, 163 patients were referred with metastatic proximal femoral lesions. 90-day mortality was three times higher than controls (44% 71/163 vs. 12% 4/33, p<0.01). Mean time from referral to surgery was longer in impending versus completed fractures (11 and 4 days respectively, p<0.05). Multiple biochemical markers were associated with early mortality in the metastatic group. Patients who died early were more likely to demonstrate low haemoglobin and albumin, and high c-reactive protein, platelets, urea, alkaline phosphatase and calcium (p<0.05). Several biochemical markers associated with early mortality reached clinical and statistical significance. These markers were combined into a score out of 7 and indicated a higher early mortality in metastatic patients compared to controls. Patients with a score of 5–6/7 were 31 times more likely to die within 90 days versus controls. This scoring system could be utilised to predict early mortality and guide management. The average delay to surgery of 4 days (completed) and 11 days (impending fractures) identifies a window to intervene and correct these abnormalities to improve survival

Aims: The purpose of this abstract is to present one new minimally invasive method and one 3D device for internal þxation. Methods: The device is constructed to be self-dynamisable. It has been investigated biomechanicaly. In clinical use it has been applied to 34 patient. Twenty-nine applications have been performed to the femoral comminuted fractures, four in established femoral non-union and one in pathological metastatic fracture. The age of patients was from 17 to 73 years. Twenty-three were mail and eleven females. This internal þxator is applied by small incisions using indirect or direct fracture reduction. Results: Received clinical results are promising, as it has been shown early callus formation and radiological union within the 3–4 months. It has been allowed to patients early full weight bearing. During the treatment it has been conþrmed working of self-dynamisation concept, which probably all together with 3D conþguration resulted in unexpectedly quick fracture healing. Follow up was 11 months (3–27). This concept is compatible with reduction device developed by the author and mechanical monitoring device recently developed by the author and Professor Perren in Davos. Conclusions: According to the þrst 34 patients, it can bee concluded that new internal þxator can be successfully used routinely in every day practice

Background: The exact incidence of cancer (primary/metastatic) leading to pathological fracture in femoral neck is not clear. Bone specimen is often sent for histology in suspicious cases. This retrospective study was aimed to answer the above question and to review our hospital practice in managing these patients. Materials & Methods: All patients with fracture neck of femur undergoing surgery and had bone specimen taken for histo-pathological examination between 01.01.2002 and 31.12.2003 were included. Case notes and histology reports were reviewed. Results: Out of total 533 patients with femoral neck fracture, 32 (6%) patients had bone specimen taken for histology. 9 male & 23 female patients with mean age of 82 years. 58% had past history of cancer (commonest being breast) with/without suspicious lesion on x-rays where as the remaining had no history of cancer but suspicious lesion on x-rays. 4 (12.5%) had positive histology results. All four had metastatic disease (2 from breast, 1 from renal and 1from multiple myeloma). Only 19% had results documented in case notes but 81% had reports filed in notes. Appropriate referral was made to oncology team for three patients. The fourth patient with multiple myeloma died in hospital before the referral. Four of 28 (14%) patients with negative results died within 3 years following the surgery compared to only 1 (multiple myeloma) out of 4 patients with positive results. Conclusion: The incidence of suspicious pathological femoral neck fracture was 6% but incidence of cancer was 0.7%. All positive cases were metastatic. Commonest primary was from breast – adenocarcinoma). Mortality in negative cases was 16% at average of 3 years compared to 25% in metastatic fracture patients

Purpose: Pluridisciplinary therapeutic management is well defined for metastatic long bones. There are few prognostic criteria enabling an evidence-based choice between palliative surgery or abstention. We report a series of 24 metastatic femurs treated by palliative surgery and evaluated with the Tokuyashi score. Material and methods: Sixteen women and eight men, mean age 71 years (5!-89) underwent centromedullary nailing of a metastatic femur (13/16 breast cancer in women, 20.24 other metastases. The Toskuhashi score was > 6 for 16/24 patients with pain unresponsive to morphine. Thirteen patients had fractured femurs and eleven had frail femurs due to the metastasis. Mean time to surgery was six days (1–15). Results: A solid nail was used for four patients and a reconstruction nail for twenty. Operative time was 93 minutes (57–123). Blood loss was 200 l (150–350). There no intraoperative complications (fat embolus) excepting one tulip femur. Hospital stay was 23 days (8–55). Survival was 148 days (8–510) in patients with a frail metastatic tumour. Eight deaths occurred in patients with a fractured metastatic tumour (six within the first three postoperative weeks), two after preventive nailing. Weight bearing in living patients with a fractured femur was possible at 57 days (30–90). Only six patients required morphine in the early postoperative period. For the femurs with an isolated metastasis, the antalgesic effect of centromedullary nailing was significant (p< 0.05). There was a significant correlation between thee Tokuyashi score and mean survival. Mean survival in patients with a score < 3 was 2.1 months. Mean survival in patients with a score > 6 was 17 months. Conclusion: Centromedullary nailing of the femur for metastatic fracture or fragilisation remains the treatment of choice for patients with short life expectancy. This technique limits pain while preserving independence as long as possible. The Tokuyashi score is correlated with patient survival. If this easy to establish score is too low (< 3), the survival can be expected to be insufficient for any surgical benefit

Introduction: Intramedullary humeral nailing (IMHN) is appropriate for metastatic lesions and fractures as it stabilizes the whole bone and allows immediate mobilization. We report the results of a patient cohort with metastatic lesions/fractures treated by IMHN. Methods: We included patients who were treated with IMHN between June 2001 and December 2007 for metastatic lesions/fractures. We noted the source of referrals, site of fracture/lesion, primary lesion, metastasis elsewhere, operative complications, post-operative patient satisfaction and pain control, fracture healing and post-operative survivorship. Results: We identified 38 patients. The median age was 71 years (50–87). Four patients presented with lytic lesions involving more than 50% of cortical diameter while 34 patients had a fracture. 10 patients had pain in their arm for at least 2 weeks before presentation. Primary malignancies were breast (9), Non-Hodgkins B-cell Lymphoma (4), prostate (4), kidney (5), myeloma and lung (2 each), bladder, leiomyosarcoma and oesophagus (1 each) and unknown (9). There were 22 proximal, 13 midshaft and 3 distal humeral lesions. All had metastasis elsewhere in addition to the humerus except six. 12 patients were without co-morbidities. Senior grade surgeons operated on all the patients. There were no intra-operative complications. Post-operative complications included sepsis (2), frozen shoulder(1), elbow stiff-ness(1), pneumonia(2), and transient radial nerve palsy (2). Three patients developed a second fracture distal to the first one and had revision surgery. Post-operative pain control was satisfactory in 34 and unsatisfactory in 3 patients. Difficulty in pain assessment occurred in 1 patient with brain metastasis. 36 patients died, with median survival from date of surgery of 12 weeks (range 1 – 62 weeks). Two patients are alive 2.5 and 1.7 years after surgery. The median follow-up period by the orthopaedic outpatient department was 2 months (1–26.5) for 33 patients as 5 patients died with in two weeks of operation. At follow up; 9 fractures had healed, 17 were healing, 2 had not united, and 5 patients did not have x-ray at follow up. 5 Out of 8 patients, who died with in 4 weeks of surgery, had a combination of at least one co morbidity, one area of metastasis other than the humerus and were in - patients. There was no co relation between mortality and sex, age, type of tumour, or presence of metastasis. Conclusion: IMHN for metastatic lesions and fractures is effective for pain relief and fracture healing. However a long IM nail should be used and the whole arm should be radiated. Deviations from these principles lead to 3 surgical revisions in our cohort of patients. Also one group of patient had a high mortality rate and in this specific group non-operative treatment should be thought about

Introduction The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of percutaneous vertebroplasty as an invervention therapy in symptomatic vertebral compression fractures on pain relief and improvement of the quality of life of the patients. The increasing elderly population is assumed to be associated with an increased incidence of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. These fractures lead to a severe morbidity, decreasing quality of life, worsening co-morbidity and sometimes resulting in death. It is justifiable to treat stable vertebral compression fractures by non-operative therapy. Previous studies have shown that vertebroplasty as a non-operative treatment increases the vertebral body strength, restores vertebral body stiffness, reinforces fractured bone, prevents further deformity and alleviates the local pain. Complication rates are reputed to be low. Methods This is a prospective clinical study of percutaneous vertebroplasty in treating stable vertebral compression fractures. Since January 2001, 30 patients were treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty for 58 osteoporotic compression vertebral fractures, four non-osteoporotic stable compression fractures, two compression vertebral fractures due to metastatic carcinoma of the prostate and one due to metastatic carcimona of the cervix. Bone cement PMMA (Howmedica) mixed with Vancomycin antibiotic, and Tantalum Dust Powder (Cook Medical Co) was inserted to the facture site using Oseo-Site Bone Biopsy needle (Cook Medical Co). Pre and post treatment pain, morbidity, quality of life, hospital stay, complication and long term results were evaluated. Results The average hospital stay after vertebroplasty was 2.2 days. Signficant pain relief from 9.9 (pain scale) to 1.8. Improvement of the quality of life: siting, standing, walking without a lumbar brace was achieved one day after the treatment. In some cases the delay of improvement was influenced by the co-morbidity of the patients. No complications were found during the procedure of this treatment. Conclusions Vertebroplasy provided a promisingly good result in alleviating the local pain and improving the quality of life in osteoporotic thoraco-lumbar compression fractures. Prospective and long term results should be evaluated in greater sample size for non osteoporotic stable compression fractures. Although vertebroplasty does not change the nature of carcinoma, it improves the rest of the quality of life of someone suffering from metastatic fractures. In relation to the conduct of this study, one or more of the authors has received, or is likely to receive direct material benefits

There is comprehensive data addressing the 6 to 18-month survival in patients with pathological neck of femur (NOF) fractures due to bony metastases. However, little is known about early mortality in this group. The aim was to quantify 30 and 90-day mortality in patients with pathological NOF lesions/fractures and identify biochemical markers associated with early death. Orthopaedic trauma lists over one year were used to identify patients with a pathological NOF fracture/lesion. 33 patients had a metastatic NOF fracture/lesion and were compared to a control group of age and gender-matched non-pathological NOF fractures. Time from referral to surgery was higher in patients with a pathological fracture compared to a pathological lesion (average 7.4 and 0.6 days, p<0.05). 30 and 90-day mortality was higher in the metastatic group compared to controls (15% 5/33 vs 9% 3/33 p<0.05, and 42% 14/33 vs 12% 4/33 p<0.01, respectively). Patients with early mortality had lower average sodium (135 vs 138, p<0.05), creatinine (48 vs 62, p<0.05) and APTT (27 vs 32, p<0.05). They had a higher average WCC (11.3 vs 7, p<0.05) and CRP (55 vs 18, p<0.01). Metastatic patients with early mortality had lower albumin (20 vs 30, p<0.01) and haemoglobin (102 vs 121, p<0.01), which were higher in the control NOF group with early mortality (albumin 28 and haemoglobin 118 respectively, p<0.05). Patients with pathological NOF lesions have multiple biochemical abnormalities associated with early mortality. A prospective study is proposed to assess whether correction of these abnormalities can improve survival in this group

The December 2012 Hip & Pelvis Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: swimming against the tide with resurfacing; hip impingement surgery; the relationship between obesity and co-morbidities and joint replacement infection; cemented hips; cross-linked polyethylene notching; whether cement is necessary in oncological arthroplasty; and how total hip replacement may result in weight gain.