Multiple pathological fractures and delayed union associated with lead exposure in a German Shepherd Dog.

CASE REPORT: An 8-year-old 40.8-kg intact male German Shepherd Dog was evaluated for bilateral antebrachial fractures. Radiographs revealed osteopenia and comminuted proximal diaphyseal fractures of the left radius and ulna, and proximal articular fracture of the right ulna. A dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan confirmed decreased bone mineral density. Bone mineral analysis collected at the time of definitive surgical repair demonstrated high lead concentration. Analysis further demonstrated normal bone calcium and phosphorus concentrations. Serum lead concentration was normal. The left radial and ulnar fractures were surgically stabilised with an external fixator. The right ulnar fracture was splinted. The left antebrachial fractures were palpably unstable at 12 weeks after surgery. Moderate callus formation and incomplete bone union were present at 17 weeks postoperatively. The dog was re-presented 15 months later for right metacarpal and left metatarsal fractures, which were managed conservatively. Complete bone union of the right radial and ulnar fractures was not present at that time. CONCLUSION: Excessive lead accumulation in bone should be considered as a differential diagnosis for increased susceptibility to pathologic fracture and delayed fracture healing in dogs.

Fracture during intravenous bisphosphonate treatment in a child with osteogenesis imperfecta: an argument for a more frequent, low-dose treatment regimen.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Intravenous bisphosphonate therapy is the mainstay of medical treatment in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and has been shown to increase bone mass, decrease bone pain, improve mobility, and reduce the incidence of fractures. Sclerotic metaphyseal lines parallel to the growth plate are seen on long bone radiographs following cyclical intravenous therapy. These areas create stress risers within the bone that may act as foci for subsequent fractures as exemplified in this clinical case. METHODS: An 8-year-old girl with OI sustained a distal radial fracture following 3 years of treatment with 6-monthly intravenous zoledronate. Her diagnosis, response to treatment, and subsequent fracture at a sclerotic metaphyseal line is described. RESULTS: Peripheral quantitative computer tomography was used to characterise the presence of multiple stress risers at the distal forearm. Trabecular bone mineral density fluctuated from 34 to 126% compared to neighbouring 2-mm regions. CONCLUSION: There remain many unanswered questions about optimal bisphosphonate treatment regimens in children with OI. The formation of stress risers following intravenous bisphosphonate treatment raises the hypothesis that a more frequent and low-dose bisphosphonate regimen would provide more uniform dosing of bone in the growing child and reduce the likelihood of fractures compared to current treatment practices.

Atypical forearm fractures associated with long-term use of bisphosphonate.

Recent reports on atypical femoral fracture have raised concerns about the long-term use of bisphosphonate. More recent case series focus specifically on the subtrochanteric fractures. But, there is relatively rarity and unawareness of atypical fracture in upper extremity. We report forearm fracture in two women receiving long-term bisphosphonate therapy. First woman presented with pain in the forearm and both thighs and radiographs showed incomplete fractures in a proximal ulnar shaft and bilateral femoral shaft. The other woman had a fracture in the radial shaft. This report suggests atypical fractures associated long-term use of bisphosphonate could occur in bones other than femur. More study is required to identify the magnitude of clinical features of this emerging concern.

Effect of bovine bone morphogenetic proteins on radius fracture healing in rabbits / Efeito de proteínas morfogenéticas ósseas de origem bovina na consolidação de fraturas induzidas no rádio de coelhos

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of bovine bone morphogenetic proteins (bBMPs) bound to hydroxyapatite plus collagen in the healing of unstable radius fractures. METHODS: A transverse fracture was induced at the mid of the diaphysis in both radii on 15 Norfolk rabbits with average age of 5.5 months and 3.5kg. A mixture of bBMPs bound to thin powdered hydroxyapatite (bBMP-HA) and bovine collagen as agglutinant was applied to the right radius fracture site. The left radius fracture was considered control and no treatment was used. After 30, 60 and 90 days (5 rabbits/period) the rabbits were euthanized and the radii were collected for histological analysis. RESULTS: The descriptive histological analysis revealed that repair was similar for both forelimbs. The histomorphometric analysis showed that the mean area of newly formed bone was 867442.16 mm², 938743.00 mm² and 779621.06 mm² for the control forelimbs, and 841118.47 mm², 788038.76mm² and 618587.24 mm² for the treated forelimbs at 30, 60 and 90 days, respectively. Thus the newly formed bone area was 12.17 percent larger in the forelimbs treated with bBMP-HA/collagen than in the control forelimbs (p<0.05, Tukey test) in the 60-day period after surgery. In both forelimbs the newly formed bone area increased throughout the experimental period until the complete fracture healing. CONCLUSION: Based on the result obtained here we concluded that bBMP-HA/collagen induced a lower but significant improvement in fracture consolidation.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a influência de Proteínas Morfogenéticas Osseas de origem bovina (bBMPs) ligadas a hidroxiapatita mais colágeno na consolidação de fraturas instáveis do rádio. MÉTODOS: Em 15 coelhos com aproximadamente 5,5 meses de idade e peso médio de 3,5kg foi realizada uma fratura transversa na porção média da diáfise do rádio de ambos os membros. Na fratura do rádio direito foi aplicada mistura de bBMPs ligadas à hidroxiapatita (bBMP-HA) e colágeno bovino como aglutinante e na do rádio esquerdo, considerada controle, nenhum tratamento foi usado. Os coelhos (cinco por período) foram submetidos à eutanásia aos 30, 60 e 90 dias após a cirurgia para realização do processamento histológico e análise microscópica. RESULTADOS: A análise histológica descritiva revelou que a consolidação foi similar para os membros tratado e controle. Pela análise histomorfométrica, a área de novo osso foi em média 867442,16 mm², 938743.00 mm² e 779621,06 mm² para os membros controles e 841118,47 mm², 788038,76mm² e 618587,24 mm² para os membros tratados, aos 30, 60 e 90 dias, respectivamente. Desta forma, aos 60 dias de pós-operatório a área de novo osso foi 12.17 por cento maior no membro tratado com bBMP-HA/colágeno em relação ao membro controle (p<0.05, teste de Tukey). Em ambos os membros a área de novo osso aumentou durante o período experimental até a total consolidação da fratura. CONCLUSÃO: Baseado nos resultados obtidos foi possível concluir que a mistura de bBMP-HA/colágeno induziu pequena, porém significante melhora na consolidação da fratura.