Mechanical properties of canine osteosarcoma-affected antebrachia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the influence of neoplasia on the biomechanical properties of canine antebrachia.


METHODS
Ex vivo biomechanical study.


METHODS
Osteosarcoma (OSA)-affected canine antebrachia (n = 12) and unaffected canine antebrachia (n = 9).


METHODS
Antebrachia were compressed in axial loading until failure. A load-deformation curve was used to acquire the structural mechanical properties of neoplastic and unaffected specimens. Structural properties and properties normalized by body weight (BW) and radius length were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Modes of failure were compared descriptively.


RESULTS
Neoplastic antebrachia fractured at, or adjacent to, the OSA in the distal radial diaphysis. Unaffected antebrachia failed via mid-diaphyseal radial fractures with a transverse cranial component and an oblique caudal component. Structural mechanical properties were more variable in neoplastic antebrachia than unaffected antebrachia, which was partially attributable to differences in bone geometry related to dog size. When normalized by dog BW and radial length, strength, stiffness, and energy to yield and failure, were lower in neoplastic antebrachia than in unaffected antebrachia.


CONCLUSIONS
OSA of the distal radial metaphysis in dogs presented for limb amputation markedly compromises the structural integrity of affected antebrachia. However, biomechanical properties of affected bones was sufficient for weight-bearing, as none of the neoplastic antebrachia fractured before amputation. The behavior of tumor invaded bone under cyclic loading warrants further investigations to evaluate the viability of in situ therapies for bone tumors in dogs.
Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, California.
Michele A
MA
Steffey
Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, California.
Tanya C
TC
Garcia
Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, California.
Leticia
L
Daniel
Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, California.
Allison L
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8982-2558
AL
Zwingenberger
Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, California.
Susan M
SM
Stover
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005552:Forelimb / Q000473:pathology*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011312:Pressure; D016474:Weight-Bearing