To study the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the pathologic fracture caused by metastatic bone tumors.

A series of 73 patients with metastatic bone tumors were prospectively analyzed from January 2010 to December 2015, and aged from 23 to 83 years old, with an average of (56±8) years old. There were 31 males and 42 females, 11 cases were pathological fractures. 20 cases refused surgery and stay with conservative treatment, other 53 cases received surgical treatment, including 20 lung cancer metastasis, 15 cases breast cancer metastasis, 15 renal carcinoma metastasis, 10 thyroid cancer metastasis, 9 hepatoma metastasis, 1 rectal carcinoma, 1 rectal leiomyosarcoma, 1 uterineleiomyosarcoma and 1 pancreatic carcinoma. 20 patients refused surgery and chosen conservative treatment. Another 53 cases were treated surgically. Surgical methods were tumor resection, prosthesis replacement, tumor curettage and bone grafting, amputation and so on. Limb function, pain relief and survival rate of all patients were followed-up.

All cases were well followed-up for 6 to 72 months, with an average of (26.46±19.12) months. The postoperative bone pain of 53 patients was obviously reduced and the recovery of limb function were good. 20 cases of conservative treatment had poor limb function and severe limb pain.

The diagnosis of metastatic bone tumors should be based on patient's age, chief complaints, imaging findings and pathological examinations. For the treatment method, patients should be assessed first whether or not there is an indication for surgery. KPS criteria is recommended to select surgical treatment or conservative treatment. The aim of metastatic bone tumor therapy is to reduce the suffering, restore the body functions and improve the quality of life. Prevention of pathological fractures is particularly important, once occurs can cause great pain and affect the quality of life.