One small, retrospective study (Townsend, 1995) demonstrated that patients receiving postoperative radiation therapy following prophylactic stabilization for femur metastases had less pain, better limb function, less need of revision surgery, and better overall survival. The small, retrospective nature of this study, hampered by selection factors, renders this low-quality evidence. However, given the low morbidity of postoperative radiation therapy, and the importance of improving quality of life outcomes and reducing the need for further surgical interventions, the use of radiation may be considered for patients with metastases to the femur requiring prophylactic stabilization.
Treatment of Metastatic Carcinoma and Myeloma of the Femur
Joint MSTS/ASTRO/ASCO Guideline
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