Clinical use of recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-2 in a whooping crane (Grus americana).
OBJECTIVE
To report use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) as adjunctive therapy for treatment of a comminuted, open, proximal humeral fracture in an avian species.


METHODS
Clinical report.


METHODS
A 3.5-month-old male whooping crane (Grus americana).


METHODS
An open, severely comminuted humeral facture was stabilized with an intramuscular (IM) pin/type IA external skeletal fixator with tie-in configuration. rhBMP-2 was applied in a calcium phosphate matrix (CPM) paste directly to the fracture site as a bone graft substitute. Radiographic evidence of bone healing was monitored for 14 weeks.


RESULTS
Substantial bony callus was evident at 4 weeks and at 8 weeks there was bridging callus with obvious bony remodeling. The fixation was destabilized at 9 weeks by IM pin removal, bone healing progressed and the fixator was removed at 11 weeks. By 14 weeks both cortices had been re-established with continued callus remodeling evident.


CONCLUSIONS
rhBMP-2, applied in a CPM paste, was used as a bone graft substitute in the treatment of a comminuted, open humeral fracture in a whooping crane.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of rhBMP-2/CPM should be considered in treatment of avian fractures.
Sample
Susannah
S
Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706-1102, USA.
Cole
Gretchen
G
Paul-Murphy
Joanne
J
Hartup
Barry K
BK
Clyde
Victoria
V
Seeherman
Howard J
HJ
Schaefer
Susan
S
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001717:Birds / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002146:Bony Callus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000601:surgery; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D055396:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C499469:recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2