Biomechanics of metastatic spine cancer

Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2004 Oct;15(4):375-80. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2004.04.001.

Abstract

The spine is the most common site of skeletal metastases. Most of these occur within the vertebral body, thereby predisposing patients to pathologic fracture. The risk of fracture is related to the extent of bony destruction, location of the lesion, and inherent bone quality. The regional variation in spine anatomy exposes the cervical,thoracic, and lumbar spines to different forces,resulting in varying fracture types.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Humans
  • Spinal Curvatures / etiology
  • Spinal Curvatures / physiopathology
  • Spinal Curvatures / surgery
  • Spinal Fractures / etiology
  • Spinal Fractures / physiopathology
  • Spinal Fractures / surgery
  • Spinal Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Spinal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Spinal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Spine / physiopathology*