Pre-operative Embolization of Primary and Secondary Bone Tumours is Safe and Effective: a Retrospective Study

Background The surgical treatment of bone tumours can result in large peri-operative blood loss, due to their large sizes and hypervascularity. Pre-operative embolisation has been successfully used to downgrade vascularity, thus reducing peri-operative blood loss and its associated complications. Methods Pre-operative embolisation was successfully undertaken on twenty-six patients with a variety of primary and secondary bone tumours. Results Mean blood loss was 796 mL and we experienced no complications. Conclusion Pre-operative arterial embolisation of large, richly vascular bone tumours in anatomically difficult positions, is a safe and effective method of downstaging vascularity and reducing blood loss.