Radiation Therapy and Prophylactic Femur Stabilization
In the absence of reliable evidence, it is the opinion of the workgroup that clinicians may consider the use of radiation therapy in patients undergoing prophylactic femur stabilization to reduce pain, improve functional status, and reduce the need for further intervention.
Treatment of Metastatic Carcinoma and Myeloma of the Femur
Joint MSTS/ASTRO/ASCO Guideline
CONSENSUS RECOMMENDATION Rationale
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.