Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Diagnosis of shoulder instability in dogs and cats: a retrospective study.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 1998
- Authors:
- Bardet, J F
- Affiliation:
- Referral Surgical Practice · France
Plain-English summary
Shoulder instability is a condition that affects the shoulder joint in dogs and cats, leading to chronic lameness in the front leg. In a study involving 45 dogs and one cat, the animals were examined due to ongoing pain in their shoulders. While only a little over half of the affected shoulders showed signs of wear and tear, the instability was confirmed through special tests performed while the pets were under anesthesia. The study highlights that shoulder instability is a common reason for lameness in dogs, and using techniques like arthroscopy (a minimally invasive procedure to look inside the joint) can help identify any problems inside the joint. Overall, the findings suggest that recognizing and diagnosing shoulder instability is important for effective treatment.
Abstract
The glenohumeral joint is a remarkable articulation providing the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body. Glenohumeral stability results from several mechanisms, including those that do not require expenditure of energy by muscle ("passive mechanisms") and those that do ("active mechanisms"). Glenohumeral instability has been recognized in 47 shoulders of 45 dogs and one cat. Cases are presented because of chronic foreleg lameness. Shoulder joint pain is obviated by the orthopedic examination. Only 57% of the involved shoulders presented with degenerative joint disease. Signs of instability are recognized under anesthesia using a craniocaudal or mediolateral drawer sign or both. This report describes the radiographic and arthroscopic findings of shoulder instability. Arthroscopy of the shoulder joint allows identification of all intra-articular pathologies. Shoulder instability, not fully recognized in the past, appears to be the most common cause of shoulder lameness in the dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9527430/