Clinical and functional outcomes of patients with a pathologic fracture in high-grade osteosarcoma

Abstract

Background and objectives: There have been variable reports of outcomes of patients with osteosarcoma and pathologic fractures. The purpose of this study was to document outcomes after management of this clinical entity at a single large oncology center.

Methods: A retrospective review was undertaken of our database between 1989 and 2006. We compared oncologic and functional outcomes of 201 patients with high-grade osteosarcoma without pathologic fractures to 31 patients with pathologic fractures.

Results: The rate of amputation in the group with pathologic fracture was significantly higher than the group without fracture (39% vs. 14%, P = 0.001). There was no difference in the rate of local recurrence between groups. The 5-year survival was superior in the group without pathologic fracture (60% vs. 41%, P = 0.0015). For patients with localized disease, 5-year survival was higher in patients without fracture (68% vs. 52%, P = 0.006). Disability as measured by the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score was no different between the groups. Impairment as measured by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scores was lower in the group without fracture.

Conclusions: Presentation with a pathologic fracture in osteosarcoma did not preclude limb salvage surgery in a majority of patients, did not increase the risk of local recurrence, but was associated with poorer overall survival.