ABSTRACT
Fractures occur in some 5-10 per cent of patients with advanced malignancy.1
In a series of 500 consecutive patients admitted to hospice under the care of one of the authors, 31 had sustained fractures. Fractures arise as a consequence of:
• metastases from the original tumour,
• other pathological causes (e.g. osteoporosis, osteomalacia, disuse osteoporosis, osteoporosis due to steroid use, bone infection),
• trauma (commonly, falls).
