My mother has breast cancer with severe bone metastasis. She broke her right forearm in a fall with a clean fracture. She's right handed. Her heart is badly damaged from the either the chemo or the Herceptin and is only functioning at 25%. Her oncologist said that there is no further oncology treatment she can tolerate. I think she's going off Arimidex too, although she may still get Celebrex. She has opted not to have surgery to repair the arm because the cardiologist said that it was extremely risky for her to go under anesthesia, and her oncologist said that the bones were so brittle from metastasis that she doubted a bone graft would do any good. Without the use of her arm, she can't hold herself up on her walker. The hospital offered no alternative. We're trying to get her into Calvary Hospital in the Bronx for palliative care.
Is there anything else that can be done to restore the function of her arm. The oncologist said that they can't use a local anesthesia for bone surgery. Is that correct? Is there no equivalent to an epidural like the one my wife had during childbirth? Are there any external devices that can be used to immobolize the fracture by still allow her to use her arm? Even using 2x4's seems better than just leaving it dangle in a sling. She can still write if the pen is in the correct position.
Is there any other group that would be appropriate to post this to. I don't think it meets the posting guidlines for sci.med.orthopedics?
"John Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
My mother has breast cancer with severe bone metastasis. She broke her right forearm in a fall with a clean fracture. She's right handed. Her heart is badly damaged from the either the chemo or the Herceptin and is only functioning at 25%. Her oncologist said that there is no further oncology treatment she can tolerate. I think she's going off Arimidex too, although she may still get Celebrex. She has opted not to have surgery to repair the arm because the cardiologist said that it was extremely risky for her to go under anesthesia, and her oncologist said that the bones were so brittle from metastasis that she doubted a bone graft would do any good. Without the use of her arm, she can't hold herself up on her walker. The hospital offered no alternative. We're trying to get her into Calvary Hospital in the Bronx for palliative care.
Is there anything else that can be done to restore the function of her arm. The oncologist said that they can't use a local anesthesia for bone surgery. Is that correct? Is there no equivalent to an epidural like the one my wife had during childbirth? Are there any external devices that can be used to immobolize the fracture by still allow her to use her arm? Even using 2x4's seems better than just leaving it dangle in a sling. She can still write if the pen is in the correct position.
Is there any other group that would be appropriate to post this to. I don't think it meets the posting guidlines for sci.med.orthopedics?
Thanks for all replies
If it's a pathological fracture due to metastases, a shot of radiotherapy will get it to heal. If it's just a simple fracture, a cast may be the only option.
The surgeons may be able to operate under some kind of regional anaesthesia. Ask them
She has opted not to have surgery to repair the arm because the cardiologist said that it was extremely risky for her to go under anesthesia, and her oncologist said that the bones were so brittle from metastasis that she doubted a bone graft would do any good. Without the use of her arm, she can't hold herself up on her walker. The hospital offered no alternative. We're trying to get her into Calvary Hospital in the Bronx for palliative care.
Some sort of nerve block without general anesthesia must be possible. Perhaps the cardiologist is not up-to date on this, ask an anesthetist. Palliative radiotherapy hardens the bone in cases of path. fractures.
