RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF PATHOLOGICAL FRACTURES OF NEOPLASTIC ORIGIN IN DOGS

The pathologic fractures result from primary alterations which weaken in the bone tissue and are generally secundary to neoplastic bone lesions as osteosarcoma. The main goal of this work was to evaluate the incidence of pathologic fractures secondary to bone neoplasties on animals treated in the “Governador Laudo Natel” Veterinary Hospital within 10 years, from January 2001 to January 2011. The study was based on data acquired from clinical records, cytological, histological and radiographic results. The variables analyzed were race, age, sex, weight, compromised member, compromised member region, definitive diagnose method, metastasis at the moment of consultation and applied treatment. The results found confirm the incidence of pathologic fractures in the animals treated within the 10 years period and shows the races most susceptible to this problem, Rottweiller and Mongrel. Both appeared on 23% of the cases. The pelvic member was compromised more frequently than the chest member, with 61.5% and 38.5% respectively. Regarding the compromised bone, tibia and femur were diagnosed with 23% incidence each. The sexual predisposition was also evaluated, as it was observed that 61.5% of males and 38.5% of females. The male sexual predisposition, the most frequently compromised with pathological fracture, with age varying from five to six years and average weight 43kg, found in this work agree with the recordings evaluated in other studies. The occurrence of pathological fractures is more frequent in the chest member than in the pelvic member, although the results of this work show otherwise, as the fractures occurred in the pelvic member in 61.5% of the cases and in the chest member 38.5% of the cases, being more frequent in the pelvic member. It is suggested that based on the results of pathologic fracture neoplastic origin affects animals of the canine species, aged 5-6 years, with a higher incidence in patients Breeds Rottweiler and Mongrel, occurring especially in the pelvic limb, in the tibia. It was observed also that the osteosarcoma tumor is the main responsible for the occurrence of pathological fracture in dogs.