To improve the quality of life for cancer patients, we have performed surgical treatment of metastatic bone tumors of the limbs. Here we report on the postoperative functional status and the length of stay at home.
Surgery was performed in 23 patients, who had 26 operations, comprising 5 on the humerus, 16 on the femur, and 5 on the tibia. The average age at surgery was 64 years. Curettage of lesions and rigid fixation were generally performed in the lower extremities, and fixation alone was done in most upper extremities. Intramedullary nailing was most commonly used (16 cases).
The average length of follow-up was 20 months and 8 months for surviving and dead subjects, respectively. Functional status was good or better according to the criteria of Beppu and Suzuki in 24 cases, and the duration that function was maintained for 11 months on the average (68% of the survival period). In 13 cases stayed at home, its duration was 18 months (75%). These findings indicate that surgical treatment can contribute to the improvement of quality of life.