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Aims To investigate whether pathological fractures impact on osteosarcoma patient prognosis in Ireland. Methods This was a retrospective study over 22 years in a National Orthopaedic Oncology Centre. There were 117 nonfracture cases and 15 fracture cases. Outcome measures included 5 and 10 year event-free (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Kaplan-Meier curves assessed length of survival and time to death. Results Pathological fracture has no significant effect on 10 year EFS or 10 year OS. 3 factors strongly associate with 10 year OS rates: American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification (p<0.001), Metastases site (p<0.001) and Distant recurrence (p<0.001). Fractures had poorer post-chemotherapeutic necrosis rates (p=0.005). Conclusion Pathological fractures have no significant effect on survival rates or length of survival in an Irish population. The effect of pathological fractures on necrosis rates must be explored in future research., Competing Interests: No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

Case: Spine reconstruction after en bloc spondylectomy is challenging and may require multidisciplinary intervention. En bloc spine tumor resection with embolization of local recipient vessels for tumor control limits reconstructive options. Herein, we describe a case where combined efforts from orthopaedic, general, and plastic surgery teams permitted the successful reconstruction of a multilevel lumbar vertebral defect., Conclusion: A fibula-free flap within a titanium cage construct anastomosed to the left gastroepiploic vessels via a pedicled omental flow-through flap is a viable and novel method for reconstruction of a multilevel vertebral defect., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSCC/B312)., (Copyright © 2020 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.)

Purpose: To explore the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with limb salvage surgery for the treatment of osteosarcoma complicated by pathological fracture., Methods: 215 osteosarcoma patients who were admitted in our hospital from 2001 and 2012 were followed up for 5 years and were retrospectively analyzed among them. The patients were divided into 4 groups based on their condition and treatment method to observe the 5-year overall survival and tumor-free survival (TFS) in each group. Adverse reactions caused by chemotherapy were recorded and analyzed. In addition, the quality of life was compared in these 4 groups., Results: No significant differences were observed in postoperative overall survival and TFS between patients who were subjected to limb salvage surgery (Group A) and amputation (Group B). Similarly, there was no difference between patients who underwent surgery for pathological fracture and those without fracture (Group D). However, the survival of non-preoperative chemotherapy group (group C) was significantly different from that of preoperative chemotherapy group (group C vs group A/B/D, p=0.008, p=0.042, p=0.010, respectively). Besides, the TFS of non-preoperative chemotherapy group was significantly lower than that of preoperative chemotherapy group (group C vs. group A/B/D, p=0.012, p=0.002, p=0.008, respectively). Vomiting was the main adverse effect in our research. In the comparison of quality of life, social function and physical limitations in the limb-salvage group were superior to the amputation group., Conclusions: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with limb salvage surgery is effective for the patients with osteosarcoma complicated by pathological fractures.

Objective: To improve the prediction of fractures in dogs with bone tumors of the distal radius by identifying computed tomography (CT) indices that correlate with antebrachial bone strength and fracture location., Study Design: Prospective experimental study., Animals: Dogs with antebrachial osteosarcoma (n = 10), and normal cadaver bones (n=9)., Methods: Antebrachia were imaged with quantitative CT prior to biomechanical testing to failure. CT indices of structural properties were compared to yield force and maximum force using Pearson correlation tests., Results: Straight beam failure (Fs), axial rigidity, curved beam failure (Fc), and craniocaudal bending moment of inertia (MOICrCd) CT indices most highly correlated (0.77 > R > 0.57) with yield and maximum forces when iOSA-affected and control bones were included in the analysis. Considering only OSA-affected bones, Fs, Fc, and axial rigidity correlated highly (0.85 > R > 0.80) with maximum force. In affected bones, the location of minimum axial rigidity and maximum MOICrCd correlated highly (R > 0.85) with the actual fracture location., Conclusions: CT-derived axial rigidity, Fs, and MOICrCd have strong linear relationships with yield and maximum force. These indices should be further evaluated prospectively in OSA-affected dogs that do, and do not, experience pathologic fracture., (© 2017 The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

Purpose: Pathologic fractures occur in 5-10% of pediatric osteosarcoma (OS) cases and have historically been considered a contraindication to limb salvage. Our purpose was to describe the radiographic features of pathologic fracture and examine its impact on local recurrence rates, functional outcomes, and overall survival., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients at our institution from 1990 to 2015 with pathologic fracture at diagnosis or during neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We selected a control group of 50 OS patients of similar age and gender without pathologic fracture from 1990 to 2015. Functional outcomes were scored using Musculoskeletal Tumor Society criteria. Chi-square test was used for comparative analysis of groups., Results: Thirty-six patients with 37 pathologic fractures form the study cohort. Of patients who received surgery, 18 of 34 patients with fracture underwent amputation compared to 8 of 48 patients in the nonfracture group (P = 0.007). Indications for amputation in fracture patients were tumor size (n = 7), neurovascular involvement (n = 6), and tumor progression during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n = 5). Only one patient (2.9%) in the fracture group who underwent limb salvage suffered local recurrence. Of patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 25 of 34 fracture patients showed poor histological response compared to 24 of 47 nonfracture patients (P = 0.044). There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival (P = 0.96). Functional outcomes were significantly lower in fracture patients (median = 17.5) than nonfracture patients (median = 24) (P = 0.023)., Conclusions: Radiographic features of pathologic fractures were highly variable in this population. Limb salvage surgery can be performed without increased risk of local recurrence. Patients with pathologic fracture suffer worse functional outcomes but no decrease in overall survival., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Studies reported contradictory results for the prognostic significance of a pathological fracture in osteosarcoma patients. The aim of this study is to report the outcomes for a cohort of patients with osteosarcoma who presented with and without pathological fractures and to identify the prognostic importance of pathological fracture in predicting outcomes and influences on survival., Methods: Data of patients with osteosarcoma were retrospectively reviewed. Between March 1992 and June 2014, a total of 268 patients with osteosarcoma were included in this analysis, of whom 34 (12.7%) with fractures at diagnosis or sustained after chemotherapy and 234 (87.3%) without fracture. All patients were treated with approaches that integrated chemotherapy and surgical resections to maximal extent of all sites whenever feasible. The association between potential prognostic factors and survival for these patients were analyzed and compared., Results: No significant difference was observed in overall survival, progression free survival, and disease free survival between osteosarcoma patients with pathological fractures and without fracture. The patients without fracture had a 5-year survival of 50% and 10-year survival of 21%, in contrast to 37% (5-year) and 22% (10-year) in patients with fractures. Lung metastasis was the significant predictor for the presence of fractures. Advanced stage (III) of tumor, lung metastasis, poor response to chemotherapy, and local recurrence were associated increased risk for death in all osteosarcoma patients., Conclusion: Pathological fracture is not a predictor of worse survival in this study. Further studies with matched cases are needed to confirm our observations.

Aims: Osteosarcoma of the pelvis is a particularly difficult tumour to treat as it often presents late, may be of considerable size and/or associated with metastases when it presents, and is frequently chondroid in origin and resistant to chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to review our experience of managing this group of patients and to identify features predictive of a poor outcome., Patients and Methods: Between 1983 and 2014, 121 patients, (74 females and 47 males) were treated at a single hospital: 74 (61.2%) patients had a primary osteosarcoma and 47 (38.8%) had an osteosarcoma which was secondary either to Paget's disease (22; 18.2%) or to previous pelvic irradiation (25; 20.7%). The mean age of those with a primary osteosarcoma was 29.3 years (nine to 76) and their mean follow-up 2.9 years (0 to 29). The mean age of those with a secondary sarcoma was 61.9 years (15 to 85) and their mean follow-up was one year (0 to 14). A total of 22 patients with a primary sarcoma (52.4%) and 20 of those with a secondary sarcoma (47.6%) had metastases at the time of presentation., Results: The disease-specific survival at five years for all patients was 27.2%. For those without metastases at the time of diagnosis, the five-year survival was 32.7%. Factors associated with a poor outcome were metastases at diagnosis and secondary tumours. In primary osteosarcoma, sacral location, surgical margin and a diameter > 10 cm were associated with a poor outcome., Conclusion: In this, the largest single series of patients with an osteosarcoma of the pelvis treated in a single hospital, those with secondary tumours and those with metastases at presentation had a particularly poor outcome. For those with a primary sarcoma, sacral location, an intralesional margin and a diameter of > 10 cm were poor prognostic indicators., (©2016 The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery.)

Background: In a previous report, we described a method of reconstruction using tumor-bearing autograft treated by liquid nitrogen for malignant bone tumor. Here we present the first case of bone deformity correction following a tumor-bearing frozen autograft via three-dimensional computerized reconstruction after multiple surgeries., Case Presentation: A 16-year-old female student presented with pain in the left lower leg and was diagnosed with a low-grade central tibial osteosarcoma. Surgical bone reconstruction was performed using a tumor-bearing frozen autograft. Bone union was achieved at 7 months after the first surgical procedure. However, local tumor recurrence and lung metastases occurred 2 years later, at which time a second surgical procedure was performed. Five years later, the patient developed a 19° varus deformity and underwent a third surgical procedure, during which an osteotomy was performed using the Taylor Spatial Frame three-dimensional external fixation technique. A fourth corrective surgical procedure was performed in which internal fixation was achieved with a locking plate. Two years later, and 10 years after the initial diagnosis of tibial osteosarcoma, the bone deformity was completely corrected, and the patient's limb function was good., Conclusion: We present the first report in which a bone deformity due to a primary osteosarcoma was corrected using a tumor-bearing frozen autograft, followed by multiple corrective surgical procedures that included osteotomy, three-dimensional external fixation, and internal fixation.

Objective: To determine the incidence of pathological fractures associated with appendicular primary bone tumors in dogs managed medically and to identify potential risk factors at the time of radiographic diagnosis that may be associated with eventual pathological fracture., Design: Retrospective case series., Animals: 84 dogs with primary long bone neoplasia treated medically., Procedures: Medical records for dogs with a diagnosis of primary long bone neoplasia based on results of radiography that was confirmed subsequently at necropsy were reviewed. Owners elected medical treatment at a pain clinic. Data regarding clinical signs, diagnostic testing, pathological findings, and outcome were evaluated., Results: 84 dogs met study inclusion criteria with 85 limbs affected. Osteosarcoma was the most common tumor and was identified in 78 of 85 (91.8%) limbs. The median time from diagnosis to euthanasia was 111 days (range, 28 to 447 days). Pathological fractures were identified in 33 of 85 limbs (38%), with the femur most commonly affected, (8/14 [57.1%]), followed by the tibia (9/17 [52.9%]), humerus (10/27 [37%]), radius (5/25 [20%]), and ulna (1/2 [50%]). Logistic regression analysis indicated that tumors arising from long bones other than the radius had odds of eventual fracture 5.05 as great as the odds for tumors of the radius, and lytic tumors had odds of eventual fracture 3.22 as great as the odds for tumors that appeared blastic or mixed lytic-blastic., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Results suggested that radial primary bone tumors were less likely and lytic tumors were more likely to fracture. The overall incidence of pathological fractures secondary to appendicular primary bone neoplasia in this study with patients treated by means of intensive management for bone pain was higher than previously reported.

We present a rare case of delayed diagnosis of osteosarcoma of the medial clavicle in a young man. He presented following a pathological fracture with a falsely reassuring core and fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The initial biopsy was suggestive of an aneurysmal bone cyst and was therefore treated conservatively without further follow-up. The rapid increase in size over the next 8 months triggered a repeat presentation and subsequent repeat biopsy. The open biopsy confirmed high-grade osteosarcoma and the patient underwent claviculectomy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Introduction: The prognostic role of pathologic fracture in osteosarcoma has not been settled down, as previous researches have reached contradictory results. This study is prepared to clarify whether pathologic fracture predicts a poor prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma., Materials and Methods: After completely retrieved databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, Highwire, EMBASE and Science Direct, all eligible articles were included based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. And we performed a meta-analysis to calculate the pooled prognostic role of pathologic fracture in osteosarcoma., Results: Finally, a total of 8 articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, involving 1,677 subjects. We found that the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidential interval (CI) of pathologic fracture in osteosarcoma for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) are 2.13 (1.43, 3.15) and 1.58 (1.11, 2.24), respectively., Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrated that presentation with a pathologic fracture in osteosarcoma was correlated with a poor prognosis. And pathologic fracture might be a poor predictor of survival in osteosarcoma.

Opinion remains divided as to whether the development of pathological fracture affects the prognosis of patients with an osteosarcoma of the extremities. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of papers which reported the outcomes of osteosarcoma patients with and without a pathological fracture. There were eight eligible papers for final analysis which reported on 1713 patients, of whom 303 (17.7%) had a pathological fracture. The mean age for 1464 patients in six studies was 23.2 years old (2 to 82). The mean follow-up for 1481 patients in seven studies was 90.1 months (6 to 240). The pooled estimates of local recurrence rates in osteosarcoma patients with and without pathological fractures were 14.4% (8.7 to 20.0) versus 11.4% (8.0 to 14.8). The pooled estimate of relative risk was 1.39 (0.89 to 2.20). The pooled estimates of five-year event-free survival rates in osteosarcoma patients with and without a pathological fracture were 49.3% (95% CI 43.6 to 54.9) versus 66.8% (95% CI 60.7 to 72.8). The pooled estimate of relative risk was 1.33 (1.12 to 1.59). There was no significant difference in the rate of local recurrence between patients who were treated by amputation or limb salvage. The development of a pathological fracture is a negative prognostic indicator in osteosarcoma and is associated with a reduced five-year event-free survival and a possibly higher rate of local recurrence. Our findings suggest that there is no absolute indication for amputation, as similar rates of local recurrence can be achieved in patients who are carefully selected for limb salvage., (©2014 The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery.)

Background: Malignant bone tumors should be treated within interdisciplinary treatment concepts. The prognosis of pathological fractures is on the whole relatively poor because the fracture is indicative of a large and highly aggressive tumor and the hematoma associated with the fracture could possibly result in spreading of the tumor into the surrounding soft tissues., Objectives: This article summarizes the current interdisciplinary treatment concepts under special consideration of pathological fractures in primary bone tumors., Methods: A selective literature search was carried out taking own experience into consideration., Results: Due to the multimodal therapy approach for osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma, the 5-year survival rate could be increased to 60-70 %., Conclusion: The therapeutic treatment should always be carried out within the framework of an interdisciplinary, oncological bone expert team, especially in cases of pathological fractures of malignant bone tumors.

Purpose: To review records of 8 patients with telangiectatic osteosarcoma (TOS) and determine whether pathologic fractures correlate with recurrence and survival., Methods: Records of 4 men and 4 women aged 17 to 44 (mean, 28) years treated for TOS were reviewed. RESULTS; Of the 8 patients, 4 developed a pathologic fracture and 4 did not. In each group, 2 patients underwent limb salvage surgery and 2 underwent amputation. All patients received neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy with a combination of at least 2 of the following drugs: doxorubicin, methotrexate, cisplatin, and vincristin. After a mean follow-up of 5.6 (range, 2-16) years, all 4 patients with a pathologic fracture and 2 of the 4 patients without a pathologic fracture were still alive and disease-free. For the remaining patients, one died after 31 months from progression of a lung metastasis, and the other was alive with the disease and had had 2 recurrences, a lung metastasis, and an infection with Klebsiella oxytoca that eventually led to an amputation., Conclusion: The presence of a pathologic fracture in patients with TOS was not associated with worse outcome in terms of recurrence and survival.

We report three cases of children with osteosarcoma and pathologic fractures treated with long-term continuous nerve blocks for preoperative pain control. One patient with a left distal femoral diaphysis fracture had a femoral continuous nerve block catheter for 41 days without complications. Another with a fractured left proximal femoral shaft had three femoral continuous nerve block catheters for 33, 26 and 22 days respectively. The third patient, whose right proximal humerus was fractured, had a brachial plexus continuous nerve block catheter for 36 days without complication. In our experience, prolonged use of continuous nerve block is safe and effective in children with pathologic fractures for preoperative pain control.

Objective: To evaluate clinical presentation of pathologic fractures associated with suspected or confirmed osteosarcoma in dogs and to assess treatment and survival times., Study Design: Case series., Animals: Dogs (n=25) appendicular pathologic fracture., Methods: Medical records (January 1997-May 2008) of dogs with pathologic fracture associated with a suspected or confirmed osteosarcoma were reviewed. Dogs were included if they had radiographic evidence of a pathologic fracture and a presumptive or definitive diagnosis of osteosarcoma. Radiographic details, histopathology, and/or cytology findings were recorded. Overall median survival time (MST) and MST of treated dogs were calculated. Age, sex, breed, and other concurrent treatment were evaluated., Results: Rottweilers, Irish Wolfhounds, and Greyhounds were the most common breeds represented. Most dogs had minor trauma and 60% had lameness preceding the fracture. Most commonly, fractures were nondisplaced with minimal comminution. None of the dogs had radiographic evidence of pulmonary metastases at admission. Immediate (13 dogs; 52%) and delayed (4; 16%) euthanasia were performed. One dog was not treated and died 90 days after diagnosis. Three dogs (12%) were treated by amputation alone, 1 (4%) with amputation and chemotherapy, and 3 (12%) with internal fixation using an interlocking nail. Overall MST was 1 day (range, 0-623 days) and MST of treated dogs was 406.5 days. Histologic confirmation of osteosarcoma was available in all treated dogs and 6 euthanatized dogs., Conclusions: Treatment of pathologic fracture associated with presumptive osteosarcoma should be considered as an option to amputation or euthanasia if owners desire other options., (© Copyright 2011 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

Objective: To demonstrate the influence of pathologic fracture and the form of surgical therapy on the survival rate and the prognosis of the patients with osteosarcoma., Methods: From 1992 to 2001 retrospective analysis was done for 22 patients with pathological fracture out of 189 patients with primary extremity osteosarcoma. The 22 patients presented as primary extremity osteosarcoma with pathologic fracture without prior treatment. They were 7 females and 15 males and their age ranged from 8 to 36 years old. Most of diseases located in humerus and femurs. Limb salvage underwent in 12 patients (allograft 2, bone cement spacer 4, local resection 1, prosthesis 4 and rotation-plasty 1) and amputation in 10. All these patients had pre and post operative chemotherapy. The 22 patients followed 8 to 146 months after surgery, and the average was 54.7 months. The minimum follow-up for survive patient was 36 months., Results: The 54.5% patients had limb-salvage surgery and 45.5% had amputation, and the limb salvage was lower than non-fracture patients (71.9%), but without significance (P = 0.096). Nine patients developed lung metastases and died in 8 to 26 months postoperatively. The five-year estimated survival rate was 53.4%. The recurrent rates were 16.7% and 10.0% in limb salvages and amputation respectively. The lung metastases rates were 25% and 60% in limb salvages and amputation respectively., Conclusion: The performance of a limb-salvage procedure in carefully selected patients with pathologic fracture does not significantly increase the risk of local recurrence or death.

Pathological fractures caused by primary bone tumours are rare compared with fractures evolving in response to general osteoporosis or bone metastases. Nevertheless in cases of fracture due to inadequate trauma the underlying causality has to be clarified including histological analysis prior to the operating procedure. This case report demonstrates diagnostic and therapeutic standards in cases of pathological fracture of the proximal femur caused by osteosarcoma.

Fractures through bone tumors are often difficult to treat. We reviewed our combined experience with this problem in children, as well as the existing literature, to formulate management guidelines. For this study, prospective databases (1987 to 2002) from three referral centers were screened for pathologic fractures occurring under the age of 14 years. One hundred five patients presented with fracture through unicameral bone cyst, nonossifying fibroma, fibrous dysplasia, aneurysmal bone cyst and osteosarcoma. Seventeen patients were excluded. The most common primary locations were the proximal humerus and proximal femur. Pathologic fracture through nonossifying fibroma had the best outcome; union occurred with nonsurgical treatment in all cases. Unicameral bone cyst required surgical treatment to avoid persistence of the cyst and refracture. However fracture healing was predictable without surgical treatment. Proximal femoral lesions tended to heal in malunion if not fixed surgically. Aneurysmal bone cyst required surgical treatment for the lesion to heal and to allow the fracture to heal as well. Percutaneous sclerotherapy may be the treatment of choice for many of these lesions. Fibrous dysplasia allows fracture healing with nonoperative therapy. Progressive deformity requires followup and surgical correction. Malignant lesions presenting a pathologic fracture are best managed by initial nonoperative therapy during investigation and neoadjuvant therapy when possible, followed by definitive treatment.

We reviewed the surgical treatment and oncological results of 40 patients with pathological fractures from localised osteosarcoma of the long bones to determine the outcome of limb salvage in their management. All had had adjuvant chemotherapy. There were 26 males and 14 females with a median age at diagnosis of 18 years (2 to 46) and a median follow-up of 55 months (8 to 175). We performed limb salvage in 27 patients and amputation in 13. The margins of resection were radical in five patients, wide in 26, marginal in six, wide but contaminated in two and intralesional in one. Local recurrence developed in 19% of those treated by limb salvage and in none of those who had an amputation. The cumulative five-year survival of all the patients was 57% and in those treated by limb salvage or amputation it was 64% and 47%, respectively (p > 0.05). Limb-sparing surgery with adequate margins of excision can be achieved in many patients with pathological fractures from primary osteosarcoma without compromising survival, but the risk of local recurrence is significant.

The presence of pathologic fracture in osteosarcoma raises concerns of tumor dissemination by the fracture hematoma and has been considered a contraindication to limb salvage surgery. Because this is a theoretical concern, there are little clinical data available in the literature on which to base treatment of these patients. Eighteen patients with osteosarcoma who sustained a pathologic fracture and had a minimum of 24 months of followup were reviewed retrospectively. Surgical treatment included nonoperative therapy, amputation, and limb salvage groups. Patients who refused surgical intervention (2) had a uniformly poor outcome. Patients who underwent amputation (6) had no local recurrences and 33% developed metastases. Patients who underwent limb salvage (10) experienced 3 local recurrences and 6 distant recurrences. Although the distant recurrence rate for patients undergoing amputation was no different from the rate for those undergoing limb salvage, the difference in local tumor control approached statistical significance. All patients who developed local recurrence died. Surgical treatment needs to be individualized and based on factors such as fracture displacement, stability, radiographic and histologic response to chemotherapy, and the perceived ability to resect the fracture hematoma completely.

Pathologic fractures in tumors and tumor-like lesions of bone are a rare occurrence. It is for this reason that excessive treatment of benign tumors, erroneous treatment of malignant ones, or abstention from any form of therapy in metastatic forms are often observed. The authors report the main indications for treatment in different types of neoplasms in an attempt to classify therapeutic behavior in relation to histotype and preoperative staging. Furthermore, the most common errors in treatment are defined, and the principal mechanisms of consolidation of pathologic fracture, and epidemiologic features of the different types of fracture are revealed.

Osteosarcoma is the most frequent primary malignant bone tumor. It usually occurs in the second decade of life. Pathologic fracture as the primary manifestation of an osteosarcoma is rather unusual, especially under the age of 10. The authors present the case of a 9-year-old boy with a diaphyso-metaphyseal femoral fracture, in whom the radiological features of an osteosarcoma were not recognized at the time of the fracture as they were not clearly visible, and at follow-up initially were considered as proliferative callus formation.

Twenty patients with osteosarcoma and pathologic fractures were treated with a chemotherapeutic regimen consisting of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum-II (CDP), Adriamycin (ADR) (doxorubicin) and high-dose methotrexate with citrovorum factor "rescue" (MTX-CF). Before the introduction of the regimen, the primary tumor in two patients was treated by immediate amputation and in 13 with preoperative intra-arterial CDP. Among these 13 patients, responses (healing) were observed in 11 (one required the addition of radiation therapy). In three patients, the responses were so dramatic that, at their request, surgery was deferred and treatment exclusively with chemotherapy was instituted. Based on this experience, treatment exclusively with chemotherapy was also administered to an additional five patients who were admitted without pathologic fractures. In the course of such treatment, pathologic fractures also developed; notwithstanding, chemotherapy was maintained and healing also occurred. One of the 20 patients had pulmonary metastases at diagnosis; these were resected after treatment and pathologic examination revealed no evidence of viable tumor. The remaining 19 patients were free of pulmonary metastases but these later developed in seven patients. These data were compared to a historical control series in which 16 of 21 patients with pathologic fractures developed pulmonary metastases. Three of the chemotherapy treated patients died of nonosteosarcoma related causes (leukemia, generalized varicella, and a metabolic complication). Overall, survival was improved in the chemotherapy treated patients as compared to the historical control series: 10 of 20 versus 6 of 21, respectively. Pathologic fractures in osteosarcoma may heal under treatment with chemotherapy, which also has a favorable impact on the eradication of pulmonary metastases and survival.