Premature closure of the proximal physis of the humerus in a dog as a result of harvesting a cancellous bone graft.

A 5-month-old castrated male mixed-breed dog was evaluated because of lameness of the right forelimb. Physical examination revealed pain on manipulation of the right elbow joint, and radiography revealed premature closure of the distal physis of the radius with subluxation of the right elbow joint. Corrective osteotomy of the radius was performed to increase the length of the radius and establish congruity of the elbow joint. Cancellous bone was obtained from the proximal portion of the humerus and used as a graft at the osteotomy site. The dog did well after surgery. Four months after surgery, the dog again was lame on the right forelimb. Physical examination revealed instability of the right shoulder, and manipulation of that area elicited signs of pain. Radiography revealed caudomedial subluxation of the right shoulder as well as deformity of the humeral head and hypoplasia of the greater tubercle. It was presumed that these changes were associated with collection of the cancellous bone graft during the initial surgery, which resulted in premature closure of the proximal physis of the humerus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of premature closure of the proximal physis of the humerus as a result of procurement of a bone graft.