A patient with bone cancer is most at risk for which type of fracture?

The correct answer is spontaneous fracture. Patients with bone cancer often experience weakening of the bone due to the presence of the tumor, which can compromise the structural integrity of the bone. As a result, these patients are at higher risk for fractures that occur without any significant external trauma, which are referred to as spontaneous fractures or pathologic fractures.

Spontaneous fractures can occur due to minimal or no force applied to the bone when it has been weakened by cancerous lesions, making this type of fracture particularly common in individuals with bone tumors. This highlights the importance of monitoring and assessing patients with known bone cancer for signs of fragility fractures and ensuring appropriate treatment and support to manage their condition and prevent fractures.

While other types of fractures like simple, compound, or stress fractures can occur in general populations, they are not specifically associated with the underlying pathological changes seen in bone cancer, making spontaneous fractures the most relevant concern in this scenario.