Background/Aim: In Korea, small breed dogs including Maltese, Pomeranians, and Yorkshire Terriers are most common. These small dogs are at increased risk for the development of delayed union or nonunion fractures, particularly when the fracture occurs at a site with insufficient surrounding soft tissue such as the ulna and radius. To treat failed bone fracture healing, stable fixation of the fracture and implantation of bone grafts are needed. Among the various types of bone grafts, autograft is considered to be the gold standard. However, the amount of autograft available for harvesting in small dogs is limited.

In this study, we report on a novel canine cancellous allograft (C350C) that was prepared using chemicals and low heat treatment (350°C).

Patients and Methods: We applied C350C in two cases with failed bone fracture healing. Due to the poor osteoinductive capabilities of C350C, we also used recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and Matrigel as osteoinductive and delivery agents, respectively.

Results: In both cases, the fractures healed successfully.

Conclusion: C350C can be used as a bone graft material that could replace autografts in cases with failed bone fracture healing.

“Cancellous allografts, combined with osteoinductive agents, successfully supported bone regeneration, providing a promising alternative to autografts in canine fracture repair.”

Cancellous allografts have emerged as a viable alternative to autografts for treating bone fractures in small-breed dogs. In this study, researchers developed a novel canine cancellous allograft (C350C) using chemical and low-heat treatment (350˚C) to provide structural support in cases of failed bone healing. Due to the limited availability of autografts in small dogs, the study explored the application of C350C combined with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and Matrigel as osteoinductive agents.

Two canine cases with nonunion fractures were treated with C350C, and follow-up radiographic analysis demonstrated successful fracture healing. The study highlights the structural benefits of cancellous allografts and their potential in replacing autografts. Despite the reduced osteoinductive properties of allografts due to processing methods, the combination of osteoinductive agents enhanced bone regeneration.

The study also underscores the importance of careful sterilization and processing of allografts to minimize disease transmission risks. Overall, the results suggest that cancellous allografts can serve as an effective bone grafting material in veterinary orthopedic surgeries, offering a promising alternative to traditional autografts.