Percutaneous osteoplasty for the management of a humeral head metastasis: Two case reports

RATIONALE: Percutaneous osteoplasty (POP) has been proved effective to relieve pain in metastases of vertebral, pelvis, and femur. Nevertheless, there are few reports about the effectiveness of POP in the humeral head metastases. In this study, we described 2 patients with humeral head metastases treated with POP in our hospital. PATIENT CONCERNS: Case 1 was a 79-year-old man with vertebral and right humeral head metastasis after radical surgery or and periods of chemotherapy for bladder cancer. He suffered constant severe back and right shoulder joint pain even if taking much non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Case 2 was a 59-year-old woman with vertebral and right humeral head metastasis from lung cancer. She received regular radiotherapy and took much painkillers to relieve pain. However, the pain could not be relieved any more after 1 month and severely affects sleeping and daily activities. DIAGNOSIS: Both 2 patients were diagnosed as vertebral metastases and right proximal humeral head metastases. INTERVENTIONS: POP was performed to treat the right humeral head metastases. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) was performed to treat vertebral metastases. OUTCOMES: After surgery, the patients experienced significant decrease in pain and better motor function. Both patients did not suffer from pulmonary embolism, infection, nerve injury, and bone cement syndrome. LESSONS: For the pain that cannot be relieved by radiotherapy and analgesic drugs, POP is a safe and beneficial minimally invasive procedure that provides immediate and substantial relief from pain for humerus head metastases.