Surgery as a treatment for an infected pubic bone in prostate cancer survivors

This study examined the effectiveness of pubic bone removal on pain intensity associated with an infected pubic bone in prostate cancer survivors. Authors concluded that surgical treatment is an effective approach in providing long-term pain relief from an infected pubic bone.

Surgery and radiation are two first-line treatments for localized prostate cancer. Urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction are the most common side effects associated with surgery and radiation. However, an infection of the pubic bone is increasingly reported. This infection can result in neighboring bones between the urinary tract and the prostate fusing together, often causing severe pain. Whether surgically removing the pubic bone is an effective treatment in reducing pain associated with this condition is still being investigated.

The aim of this study was to assess pain intensity before and after surgical treatment for an infected pubic bone in prostate cancer survivors.

16 prostate cancer survivors with an infected pubic bone were included in this study. All patients showed signs of fusion between bones in the pubic region. Surgical treatment involved removing the pubic bone and sections of fused bones. Pain scores were assessed before and after treatment. Scores ranged from 0 (“no pain”) to 10 (“worst pain imaginable”).

First-line treatment with pain medications or antibiotics did not result in a significant improvement of pain scores. The average pain score before and after first-line treatment was 5.5.

At the first follow-up after surgery (average 24 days), the average pain score was 0. This was a significant reduction from 5.5 before surgery. At the last follow-up (average 9.4 months), significant pain reduction was sustained with an average pain score of 0.

37.5% of patients reported a constant need for pain medications before surgery. This was significantly reduced to 6.3% at the last follow-up after surgery.

Authors concluded that surgical treatment is an effective approach in providing long-term pain relief from an infected pubic bone in prostate cancer survivors.

Larger studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.