Pathologic Humerus Fracture

Description: Historically, pathologic humerus fractures have been treated non-operatively with casts, splints, or braces in conjunction with radiotherapy. However, the functional outcome for these patients was poor, as use of the arm was extremely limited. As a result, surgical techniques for fracture stabilization have been employed using endoprostheses, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and modern methods of fracture management. The success in functional improvement and pain relief has led to the much broader use of operative treatment in patients with metastatic disease.
Reuben Gobezie MD, Brent A. Ponce MD, John Ready MD The Orthopaedic Journal at Harvard Medical School