Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with distal tibial bone cancer treated by double bone transport
By Rovesti, Gian Luca et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2002·Ambulatorio Veterinario Associato M.E. Miller, Italy·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Limb sparing using a double bone-transport technique for treatment of a distal tibial osteosarcoma in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old German Shepherd was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, in the lower leg. After removing the tumor, the vet used a special technique to help regenerate the bone, which involved a frame and moving bone segments into place. The dog received chemotherapy with cisplatin to help prevent cancer spread. Although the dog developed metastatic disease later and passed away about eight months after surgery, the treatment successfully prevented local recurrence of the cancer and helped with bone healing.
People also search for: dog osteosarcoma treatment · German Shepherd bone cancer · cisplatin for dogs · dog leg cancer surgery recovery
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment of a spontaneously occurring osteosarcoma in a dog by means of tumor resection and bone regeneration of a 12-cm defect using double bone transport. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMALS OR SAMPLE POPULATION: An 11 year-old client-owned German shepherd. METHODS: After tumor resection, a preassambled Ilizarov frame was secured to the proximal tibia and to the tarso-metatarsal region. Two osteotomies were performed in the proximal metaphysis. The two bone segments were transfixed with 1.5-mm-diameter wires, each secured to a ring, and bone transport was performed until the distal segment reached the talar surface. Cisplatin was administered 14, 35, and 59 days after surgery. RESULTS: Bone regenerate was first visible radiographically 4 weeks after surgery. The frame was removed 162 days after surgery. The hock was protected with a plaster cast because the tarsal arthrodesis was not complete. The dog underwent tibiotarsal arthrodesis 201 days after osteosarcoma resection. The dog died of metastatic disease 239 days after the initial surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Even though this dog died of systemic metastases, local recurrence did not develop. Cisplatin chemotherapy did not appear to negatively affect bone regeneration. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To our knowledge, the double transport technique has not been previously described in the veterinary literature. In this dog, this technique decreased the duration of treatment compared with a conventional single-segment transport technique.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11778170/