Use of Megaprostheses in the Treatment of Metastatic Bone Disease

The development of a metastatic lesion in an extremity, particularly when associated with a pathological fracture, is a very discouraging problem, both for the patient and the attending physician. These lesions can cause considerable pain and discomfort. Advances in cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery have led to an increase of reconstructive procedures in patients with metastatic bone disease. This is mainly due to the fact that improvements in oncologic management in these patients have resulted in increased survival, and this has stimulated a more aggressive attitude regarding metastatic skeletal disease.