Prosthetic fitting after partial distal limb amputation in dogs with malignant tumors: Two case studies

Abstract

One dog with apocrine adenocarcinoma of the distal digits and one with squamous cell carcinoma of the hind limb nail bed underwent disarticulation of the carpal or tarsal joints, followed by prosthetic fitting. Contrary to several reports of prosthetic limb complications, the two presented cases experienced only minor, well-tolerated complications. In cases where complete limb amputation is currently indicated, partial limb amputation and prosthetic limb fitting may be a viable alternative, allowing tumor treatment while maintaining a high quality of life (QOL). However, further studies are required to establish the indications, surgical techniques, prosthetic design, and other aspects of the procedure.