Retrospective, multicenter, observational study of 112 surgically treated cases of humerus metastasis

Patient survival after resection of skeletal metastases and endoprosthetic reconstruction: a nation-wide cohort study in a single oncological institution

BACKGROUND

The aim of this nation-wide 2009-2021 cohort study was to analyze postoperative survival of patients with resected appendicular skeletal metastases and endoprosthetic reconstruction in comparison to sarcoma patients and non-oncological reconstructions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A single institution nation-wide cohort of 144 consecutive patients with tumor endoprosthetic reconstructions (32 resected metastases, 73 resected sarcomas, 39 non-oncological) were stratified into histopathological groups according to the 2013-SPRING prediction model. Their survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression.

RESULTS

The observed patient survival rates after wide resection of fast/moderate/slow growing metastases were 25/55/88% at 2 years and 10/30/83% at 5 years, while in sarcomas the observed survival rates were 80% at 2 years and 69% at 5 years. Estimated mean postoperative survival after resection of skeletal metastases was significantly shorter in comparison to sarcomas (4.6 years vs. 9.1 years, log-rank p < 0.001). Predictors of worse patient survival included higher age, pathologic fracture or >1 metastasis, diagnostic group fast-growing metastases and higher preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP).

CONCLUSIONS

Wide resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction offer a reliable solution in selected patients with skeletal metastases. Higher age, fast-growing metastases (from bladder cancer, colorectal, hepatocellular, lung cancer, malignant melanoma, unknown origin), pathologic fracture or >1 metastasis and elevated CRP predict shorter patient survival and may represent a relative contraindication in this regard.

Postoperative Complications of Intramedullary Nailing for Impending and Pathologic Fractures of the Humerus Due to Bone Metastases-A Systematic Review of the Literature

Intramedullary nailing (IMN) is a common option for managing impending or pathologic fractures of the humerus secondary to metastatic disease. We sought to assess the (1) early complications, (2) failure rates and mechanisms, and (3) functional outcomes. A systematic review using the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases was performed. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. The study was registered on PROSERO (CRD42023406905). The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist was used for quality assessment. Studies describing postoperative outcomes of patients with impending or pathologic fractures of the humerus treated with IMN were included. Implant failure was classified into mechanical and nonmechanical causes. Functional outcomes were assessed via the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score. Overall, 41 studies comprising 1431 patients were included. Early complications occurred in 5.5% of patients, with 2.8% of patients having systemic complications. The overall implant failure rate was 4.9%, and the mean MSTS score at the last follow-up was 79.9%. IMN was associated with good postoperative functional outcomes and low implant failure rates. Systemic complications were the most common type of early complication, and tumor progression was the main cause of implant failure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Intramedullary Nailing Versus Plate Osteosynthesis for Humeral Shaft Metastatic Lesions

In the event of surgical management of metastases to the humeral shaft, intramedullary nailing (IMN) is often preferred to plate osteosynthesis (PO) fixation despite a lack of consensus. In this study, we hypothesized that plate osteosynthesis will be associated with better functional and pain outcomes, thus better quality of life. Eighteen patients with the diagnosis of humeral shaft metastatic fracture or impending fracture were extracted from a prospective database of 140 metastatic patients collected across three hospitals over a five-year period. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score, Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), Quality of Life (QOL) and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) score were gathered during the year following the surgery. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the mean score differences between the two surgical options at baseline and five follow-up visits. Both treatment options were associated with an increase in functional outcomes based on both MSTS and TESS, and a decrease in pain level. However, no significant difference was found in quality of life and between the two treatment modalities. Thus, based on our results, a similar improvement in functional status and pain level can be achieved surgically by either intramedullary nailing or plating osteosynthesis.