Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with recurring bone cyst in leg treated with protein-loaded beads
By Lee, Chaelim et al.·Published in In vivo (Athens, Greece)·2025·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Treatment of Recurrent Aneurysmal Bone Cyst in a Dog Using Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2-loaded Alginate Microbeads.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old neutered male Golden Retriever was brought in for limping on his right hind leg due to a recurrent bone cyst. After an initial surgery to remove the cyst, the dog still showed signs of lameness, so the vet performed a revision surgery that included a special treatment with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) loaded in alginate microbeads along with bone grafts. Within two months, the dog was walking normally again, and follow-up X-rays showed that the bone was healing well without any signs of the cyst returning. The dog remained symptom-free for 29 months after the surgery.
People also search for: dog limping treatment · Golden Retriever bone cyst · BMP-2 for dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are benign osteolytic lesions associated with lameness and present therapeutic challenges due to their frequent recurrence following surgery. This case report describes the surgical management and long-term outcomes of recurrent femoral ABC in a dog treated with multiple adjuvant therapies, including bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2)-loaded alginate microbeads. CASE REPORT: A 2-year-old neutered male Golden Retriever presented with right hindlimb lameness. Three months before, the dog underwent initial surgical curettage and bone grafting of a femoral lesion, confirmed as ABC by histopathology. Radiographs revealed an osteolytic lesion in the right distal femur with resorption of previously applied bone grafts. Revision surgery involved curettage and a high-speed burring, followed by filling the defect with cancellous bone autografts, bone marrow, BMP-2-loaded alginate microbeads, and BMP-2-soaked cancellous bone allograft chips. The dog restored normal gait within two months postoperatively. Follow-up radiographs indicated progressive bone formation without recurrence. The dog remained asymptomatic 29 months after the revision surgery. CONCLUSION: The combined use of a high-speed burr, BMP-2-loaded alginate microbeads, and bone graft materials resulted in favorable clinical outcomes in recurrent ABC, without recurrence up to 29 months postoperatively.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40579036/