Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Osteosarcoma developing after tibial fracture repair in a dog
By Isaka, Mitsuhiro et al.·Published in Open veterinary journal·2021·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The occurrence of osteosarcoma after tibial fracture repair in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 14-year-old spayed female Labrador retriever was brought in for ongoing limping on her right back leg after having surgery to fix a broken bone. X-rays showed that the metal plate and screws used in her surgery had failed, and further tests revealed she had developed osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, at the site. During surgery to remove her leg, the vet found a plastic band that had been improperly used with the implant. This case highlights the importance of using proper materials in surgical implants and suggests that vets should consider removing these implants after healing to prevent complications.
People also search for: dog limping after surgery · Labrador osteosarcoma treatment · bone cancer in dogs · why is my dog limping after fracture repair
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are few detailed reports on implant-associated sarcoma in dogs; however, loose implants, metal type, and infection have not been shown as specific risk factors for this condition. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 14-year-old spayed female Labrador retriever was referred to our hospital with a main complaint of chronic right hind lameness after previous tibial fracture repair. On radiographs, rupture of the bone plate and screws with swelling of the surrounding soft tissue was observed, and osteosarcoma (OSA) was diagnosed after histopathological examinations. During amputation surgery, a plastic band was found associated with the implant. CONCLUSION: Veterinary surgeons should be aware of implant-associated OSA and refrain from using non-medical materials in the implants. Furthermore, they should recommend the removal of orthopedic implants after fracture repair.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33898278/