The risk of pelvic fracture in rectal cancer survivors who had radiotherapy

This study investigated the risk of pelvic fracture (PF) in patients with rectal cancer who received radiation therapy. Researchers suggested that there is an increased risk of PF in these patients.

Rectal cancer rates have been increasing, especially in younger populations. Due to improvements in medical care, survival has increased in patients with rectal cancer. The standard treatment for rectal cancer is surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. This treatment can be quite aggressive to the body and is associated with negative effects such as a fracture of the pelvic bones.

This side effect decreases the quality of life of these patients due to prolonged immobilization and pain. It also increases the mortality rate by 12 to 20% in the first year to follow. Most studies have investigated PF in other types of cancers. Therefore, too little is known about PF in rectal cancer survivors.  

This study included information about 7807 patients with rectal cancer who received radiation therapy. Of these, 1616 had PF. They were compared with another group of rectal cancer survivor who did not receive radiation therapy. All patients were followed up to 10 years.

The average time from treatment to PF was 2.47 years after radiation therapy. Patients who received radiation therapy were 1.2 times more at risk, of having a PF than patients who did not receive the treatment. Women were 43% more likely to have a PF.

Patients who received radiation were 1.7 times more at risk of a PF between years 2 to 4 after treatment.  

This study concluded that radiation therapy might be associated with PF in rectal cancer survivors.

This study did not include information about the weight and lifestyle of these patients. These factors could affect the PF risk of these patients.