Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgical approaches to canine appendicular osteosarcoma part 2 - limb-sparing techniques.
- Journal:
- Frontiers in veterinary science
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Borges, Ryshely Sonaly de Moura et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery · Brazil
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Osteosarcoma is a serious type of bone cancer that commonly affects dogs, especially in their limbs. Because this cancer can grow quickly and is difficult to treat, surgery is usually needed right away to help control it. There are different surgical options available, including removing the entire limb or using techniques that allow the limb to be saved. These limb-sparing methods can involve removing just the part of the bone with the tumor and then using special materials to help rebuild the bone. If chosen carefully, these techniques can help maintain a good quality of life for the dog and manage the disease effectively.
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OSA) is one of the main malignant primary bone neoplasms affecting humans and other vertebrate animals, and it represents the most common bone tumor in dogs, mainly affecting the appendicular skeleton. Given the highly aggressive nature of this cancer and the poor prognosis, immediate surgical intervention is recommended to achieve local control. Surgical treatment options may include radical surgery of the affected limb, considered the standard procedure, or limb preservation in selected cases. The purpose of this narrative literature review is to describe the limb-sparing techniques performed in the treatment of canine appendicular OSA. Limb-preserving techniques may include partial or total scapulectomy, excision of the bone segment with the tumor, and reconstruction using cortical allografts or metal endoprosthesis. Other options may involve endoexoprosthesis, pausterized tumor autografts, roll-over transposition of the ulna, limb shortening, and distraction due to bone transport. Those techniques are satisfactory in maintaining quality of life and may offer a good local disease control if the patient is properly selected, usually at initial stage.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41479421/