OBJECTIVETo retrospectively review the different types of surgical procedures for pelvic metastases, especially for periacetabular metastases.

METHODSEighty-eight patients with pelvic metastasis received surgical treatment between July 1997 and July 2005. The series included 40 females and 48 males, with an average age of 54 years. The original sites of carcinoma included 23 from breast, 15 from lung, 13 form kidney, 3 from thyroid, 2 from bladder, 3 from prostate, 3 form liver, 7 from gastro intestine, and 3 from gynecological viscera Thirteen cases were diagnosed as unknown primary metastases. Thirty-two patients had solitary metastasis and 56 patients had multiple bone metastases. Eighteen patients had Type I pelvic resections, 50 had type II, and 10 patients had Type III and Type IV each. Surgical treatments included 72 intralesional curettages and 16 en bloc resections. In 29 patients, the bone defect after tumor resection was reconstructed with methyl acrylate alone or combined with Steinmann pins and screw-rod system. Acetabular reconstructions underwent in 50 patients. Local resections with no reconstructions were done in 5 patients, and hemipelvectomy in 4 patients.

RESULTSThe mean time of follow-up was 13 months, ranging from 6 to 24 months. Twenty-nine patients were lost follow-up. Postoperative improvements in 86 (97.8%) patients were seen in pain and mobility scores. The average VAS pain scores were 7.2 points preoperatively and 3.5 points postoperatively. Postoperative function was evaluated according to Enneking's criteria, with a mean score of 19.2 points, including 16.4 points for periacetabular lesions and 23.5 for others. Local recurrence was seen in 11 patients, the average recurrence time was 5.6 months after surgery. Surgical complications occurred in 12 patients, including 8 wound complications, 2 multi-organ function failures, 1 pulmonary embolism, and 2 dislocations.

CONCLUSIONSThe indications of surgical intervention for pelvic metastasis are severe pain and difficulty in ambulation. The surgical objective is alleviation of pain, restore the mobility and stability of the hip. The surgical procedure for most metastases is curettage and cement filling. Wide resection is an alternative method for solitary pelvic metastasis with good prognosis.