A new study published in the Irish Medical Journal investigated if pathological fractures impact the osteosarcoma prognosis.

This retrospective study was carried out for over 22 years in a National Orthopedic Oncology Centre in Ireland, wherein 117 nonfracture cases and 15 fracture cases were selected. Outcome measures were 5- and 10-year event-free (EFS) and overall survival (OS).

The findings showed that pathological fractures had no significant effect on the 10-year EFS or 10-year OS. While three factors strongly associated with the 10-year OS rates – American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification, Metastases site and Distant recurrence. On the other hand, fractures had poorer post-chemotherapeutic necrosis rates.

The results suggested that pathological fractures have no significant effect on survival rates or the length of survival. It was stated that the effect of pathological fractures on necrosis rates must be explored in future research.

Source: Irish Medical Journal. 2020 Dec 16;112(10):1021.