Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How elbow joint mismatch causes elbow dysplasia in dogs
By Dominika Kubiak-Nowak et al.·Published in Life·2025·Department and Clinic of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Assessment of Elbow Joint Incongruity as a Primary Cause of Canine Elbow Dysplasia: Comparative Imaging Analysis Using CT and Radiography in 108 Dogs—A Retrospective Study
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs aged 3 to 15 months was examined for elbow problems, specifically looking for elbow dysplasia, which can cause pain and limping. In this study, 58 dogs showed signs of elbow incongruity, a common cause of elbow dysplasia, often alongside other issues like medial coronoid process disease. The researchers used X-rays and CT scans to measure joint spaces and found that dogs with incongruity had wider joint spaces compared to healthy dogs. Understanding these measurements can help veterinarians diagnose and treat elbow dysplasia more effectively, ensuring better outcomes for affected dogs.
People also search for: dog elbow dysplasia symptoms · puppy limping treatment · elbow joint incongruity in dogs
Abstract
Background: Incongruity is a primary cause of elbow dysplasia. The aims of this study included assessing the prevalence of incongruity, determining reference ranges for joint space widths of the elbow joints in asymptomatic animals, and analyzing the correlations between incongruity and other primary causes of elbow dysplasia. Methods: The study was conducted in 108 dogs of different sexes and aged from 3 to 15 months. The animals were divided into two groups: group I (50 dogs) comprising healthy animals and group II (58 dogs) comprising sick animals. Results: All the dogs in group I were considered healthy. In these dogs, the mean radioulnar “step” height based on the X-ray examination was 0.85 ± 0.33 mm, the mean joint space width of the humeroulnar joint assessed in the computed tomography (CT) examination was 1.34 ± 0.34 mm, and the mean joint space width of the humeroradial joint was 1.43 ± 0.31 mm. In group II, incongruity was detected in 30 and 41 dogs based on the X-ray and CT scan images, respectively. The mean radioulnar “step” height in the dogs with incongruity based on the X-ray examination was 2.05 ± 0.53 mm, while that in the CT examination was 2.33 ± 0.74 mm. The mean joint space width of the humeroulnar joint based on the computed tomography (CT) examination was 3.189 ± 1.03 mm, and the mean joint space width of the humeroradial joint was 2.916 ± 0.702 mm. The most common diagnosis was a combination of incongruity with medial coronoid process disease. Conclusions: Based on the conducted studies, the following reference values were determined: for the height of the radioulnar “step” measured on radiographs, 0.3–1.5 mm; for the height of the radioulnar “step” measured in the CT examination, 0–1.5 mm; for the width of the joint space of the humeroulnar joint measured on MPR images in the sagittal section, 0.8–2.2 mm; and, for the width of the joint space of the humeroradial joint measured on MPR images in the sagittal section, 0.7–2.5 mm. An elbow incongruity was the most frequently diagnosed primary cause of elbow dysplasia, most often occurring in combination with other causes, particularly medial coronoid process disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/life15111673