Intercalary Bone Grafts for Joint and Limb Preservation in 17 Dogs with High-Grade Malignant Tumors of the Diaphysis

Objective—To evaluate postoperative complications, limb function, and tumor control after in-tercalary resection and reconstruction for preservation of limb and joint function in dogs with high-grade malignant tumors of diaphyseal bone. Study Design—Retrospective study. Animals—Seventeen client-owned dogs. Methods—The bone tumor database and medical records were reviewed (1986–2002) for dogs with diaphyseal tumors treated with intercalary resection and reconstruction with either an allograft or irradiated autograft. Clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, surgical management, and outcome were determined from medical records and telephone interviews with veterinarians and owners. Statistical analyses included w2 to test associations between intra- and postoperative variables with complications, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis for disease-free interval, metastasis-free interval (MFI), and median survival time. Results—Intercalary limb-sparing surgery was performed in 17 dogs with diaphyseal tumors: os-teosarcoma (OSA) (15), histiocytic sarcoma (1), and solitary metastasis from a pulmonary adeno-carcinoma (1). One dog was excluded from further analysis when the spared limb was amputated