title: Limb salvage surgery for osteosarcoma of the proximal humerus: outcome in 17 dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe function and identify factors that affect outcome in dogs undergoing limb salvage surgery for osteosarcoma (OS) of the proximal humerus.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of dogs in which OS of the proximal humerus was treated with limb salvage surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  17 client-owned dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records were analyzed for functional outcome, recurrence, metastasis, and survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outcome was good to excellent in 12% of dogs. Recurrence, metastasis, and survival were significantly affected by completeness of surgical margins. Double plating of the distal allograft-host junction significantly reduced frequency of biomechanical failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limb salvage surgery for OS of the proximal humerus did not result in acceptable function and was fraught with postoperative complications. Outcome was significantly affected by completeness of surgical margins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limb salvage surgery for OS of the proximal humerus in dogs cannot be recommended until improvement in functional outcome and reduction in postoperative complications can be achieved. The dependence of outcome on completeness of surgical margins supports aggressive en bloc resection and marking and evaluating surgical margins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kuntz
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Asselin
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Dernell
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Straw
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Withrow
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000662:veterinary; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000662:veterinary; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000637:transplantation; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D006811:Humerus / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000662:veterinary; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000662:veterinary