Pilot Clinical Trial to Evaluate In Situ Calcium Phosphate Cement Injection for Conservative Surgical Management of Appendicular Osteosarcoma in Dogs.

Simple Summary: Amputation or limb-sparing are the main surgical options for removing the primary tumor in canine appendicular osteosarcoma (OSA). Usually, these surgeries are complemented by adjuvant therapy to help to prevent metastatic dissemination. However, in some cases, these procedures may not be possible due to various factors such as the limitation of the surgical procedure, the dog's medical condition, or the owner's refusal. Herein, a study was carried out to assess the safety and efficacy of an alternative surgical approach called cementoplasty, which uses a calcium phosphate bone substitute. Involving 12 dogs, the study focused on evaluating its ability to reduce pain and lower the risk of pathological fractures. The results indicated an enhanced quality of life post-treatment, along with a decrease in the incidence/occurrence of pathological fractures. This study highlights cementoplasty as a safe palliative alternative to conservative surgical methods, offering potential benefits in the overall management of canine osteosarcoma. Cementoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that consists of injecting a bone substitute into the tumor lesion to provide bone reinforcement and alleviate pain. This study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of cementoplasty with a calcium phosphate cement in osteosarcoma to reduce pain and preserve limb function. Throughout the 6-month study, dogs received no adjuvant therapy, and dogs' evaluations included a clinical examination, monitoring of postoperative complications, radiographic follow-up, and assessment of limb function and pain scores. Out of 12 dogs enrolled, 10 were withdrawn before study completion due to deterioration in their general condition. Nine (9) dogs were followed until D28, six until D56, and two until D183. Compared to D0, more than 50% of the dogs showed improvement in both veterinarian and owner scores at their final visit. Throughout the study, 10 major and 4 minor complications were reported, all unrelated to the procedure. This open non-controlled study provides first evidence of the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of cementoplasty procedure using a calcium phosphate bone cement to relieve pain and preserve limb function in dogs suffering from appendicular osteosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]