Key takeaways

  • Surgery is not a common treatment for multiple myeloma, but doctors may recommend it to address complications like weakened bones, damaged bone marrow, or spinal cord compression.
  • Different surgical procedures can help stabilize weakened bones with metal rods and plates, facilitate bone marrow transplants to replace destroyed marrow, and relieve pressure on the spinal cord through laminectomies or similar operations.
  • While treatments like chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and steroids are more typical for multiple myeloma, surgery aims to improve quality of life and manage specific complications, with success varying based on individual factors.

Surgery to treat compression of the spinal cord is an emergency treatment. Other treatments may be necessary if complications of multiple myeloma develop over time.

Read on to learn about when doctors recommend multiple myeloma surgery, what the procedures involve, and more.

Doctors may recommend multiple myeloma surgery if a person has:

Treatments for multiple myeloma are more likely to involve chemotherapy and radiation therapy. If a doctor recommends multiple myeloma surgery, they can advise on the type of surgery and what a person can expect from the procedure.

Multiple myeloma can cause the bone to weaken, increasing a person’s risk of fractures. This may happen if tumors in the bone marrow spread to the bone.

A person may require surgery to place metal rods and plates to support the bones. They can help treat and prevent fractures.

It may also be beneficial to support the bones and reduce pain by wearing a neck brace or back brace, depending on the location of the pain.

A doctor may also recommend bone-modifying agents (BMAs) either instead of or in addition to surgery. BMAs help make bones stronger and reduce the likelihood of fractures.

It is important to contact a medical professional if a person experiences any pain or believes they have experienced a fracture. A medical professional can advise on whether they recommend surgery or BMAs to improve bone strength and reduce symptoms.

Learn more about bone fracture repair.

According to the Moffitt Cancer Center, some people consider a bone marrow transplant a type of surgery. However, it is not a major surgery. Medical professionals carry it out similarly to a blood transfusion.

A bone marrow transplant may be necessary in case of multiple myeloma if chemotherapy or radiation treatment has destroyed the bone marrow.

The procedure involves taking bone marrow from an adult donor and injecting it into the individual’s vein. The donated bone marrow will replace the destroyed bone marrow.

Spinal cord compression is a possible complication of multiple myeloma. It may be present if a person experiences:

  • weakness in the lower extremities
  • back pain
  • dysfunction of the bowel or bladder
  • sensory deficits, such as a reduced ability to feel pain

Spinal cord compression is a medical emergency. Surgery is necessary if the spinal column is unstable or if compression occurs as a result of bone fragments from a fracture of the spine.

The exact type of procedure will depend on factors such as the location of the compression. Examples include:

  • Laminectomy: Laminectomy involves removing one of the spinal bones to relieve pressure on the nerve.
  • Laminoplasty: Laminoplasty involves thinning the bone on one side and creating a hinge by cutting the other side. This makes more room for the spinal cord.
  • Discectomy: Discectomy involves removing part of the disk that is damaged.

The risks of multiple myeloma surgery will depend on the type of procedure.

For example, if surgery involves the placement of rods, it may lead to:

  • the need for further operations
  • mechanical complications, such as parts of the rod breaking
  • infection

Bone marrow transplants can lead to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This is where the transplanted cells attack the individual’s own cells.

Risks of spinal cord compression include:

  • injury to the spinal cord or nerve root
  • durotomy, which is a tear in the outer membrane of the spinal cord that can lead to fluid leaking
  • epidural hematoma, which is bleeding between the skull and spinal cord
  • wound infection
  • nonunion, which is when the fracture cannot heal

A person’s doctor can discuss the benefits and risks of the procedure they recommend.

The most successful treatment for multiple myeloma will be different for each person. However, the most common multiple myeloma treatments include:

Factors that will determine the type of treatment a person receives include:

  • whether the multiple myeloma is high risk
  • the individual’s age
  • the kidney health and overall health of the individual
  • whether the person will require a stem cell transplant

Learn more about multiple myeloma treatments.

Quality of life for a person with multiple myeloma will depend on the severity of the condition and the symptoms they experience. Palliative care can help improve quality of life by:

  • alleviating pain
  • helping find ways to manage symptoms
  • supporting the individual and their family throughout their treatment

How long a person can live following a multiple myeloma diagnosis will vary greatly depending on factors such as the severity of the condition, how it responds to treatment, and the person’s overall health.

According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rates for multiple myeloma are:

  • 79% for localized multiple myeloma
  • 57% for distant multiple myeloma
  • 58% for all SEER stages combined

A relative survival rate helps give an idea of how long a person with a particular condition will live after receiving a diagnosis compared with those without the condition.

For example, if the 5-year relative survival rate is 70%, it means that a person with the condition is 70% as likely to live for 5 years as someone without the condition.

It is important to remember that these figures are estimates. A person can consult a healthcare professional about how their condition is going to affect them.

Although multiple myeloma surgery is uncommon, doctors may recommend it to treat complications.

Multiple myeloma can weaken bones and increase the risk of fractures. Surgery to insert rods or plates can help support the bones and prevent or treat fractures.

Some people consider bone marrow transplants to be a type of surgery. This involves injecting donor bone marrow into the vein to replace damaged bone marrow.

Spinal cord compression may require emergency surgery. Types of procedures include laminectomy, laminoplasty, and discectomy.

More common treatments for multiple myeloma include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and steroids. A person’s doctor can advise on what treatments they recommend to directly address the condition and manage any complications.