Palliative surgery of metastatic bone disease: a review of 83 cases.

Of a total of 83 patients with metastatic bone disease, surgery was performed in 17 cases at the prefracture stage, in 54 cases after complete fracture and in 10 cases to decompress the spinal cord. Positive short-term results were obtained in 75% of cases. 7 patients presented mild complications. In 2 cases, the patients had to be reoperated. 55% of the patients were still alive after 6 months, 31% after 12 months and 10% after 2 years.