Clinical Role of Orthopedic Surgeons in the Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma

Abstract

Introduction: We investigated the clinical departments that patients with multiple myeloma first visited, their symptoms, and whether there was any delay in diagnosis.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 59 patients with multiple myeloma.

Results: Forty-five percent of patients first visited orthopedics. Diagnosis delay in orthopedics was 34.0%, and diagnosis delay in the orthopedic clinic was 63.6%. The symptoms at the first visit were 55.1% for orthopedic symptoms and 28.2% for internal medical symptoms. The most common symptom was low back pain, at 35.9%.

Conclusions: In order to diagnose multiple myeloma without delay, it is desirable to actively perform blood tests for patients with some red flag signs.