Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Elbow bone fragment problems in small and toy breed dogs
By Hans, Eric C et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2016·From the Department of Veterinary Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Fragmentation of the Medial Coronoid Process in Toy and Small Breed Dogs: 13 Elbows (2000-2012).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of toy and small breed dogs with elbow pain and limping were diagnosed with fragmentation of the medial coronoid process (FCP), a condition that can cause lameness. They underwent arthroscopic surgery to treat the issue, which involved looking inside the joint to repair the damage. After the surgery, most dogs showed significant improvement, with seven out of nine dogs regaining full or acceptable function. Owners reported high satisfaction with the results, averaging 91%. This suggests that if your small dog is limping due to elbow pain, FCP could be a possible cause, and arthroscopy may be an effective treatment option.
People also search for: small dog elbow pain · toy breed lameness treatment · FCP surgery for dogs · dog elbow surgery recovery · why is my dog limping
Abstract
Fragmentation of the medial coronoid process (FCP) is an uncommon cause of thoracic limb lameness in toy and small breed dogs. Arthroscopic findings and treatment remains poorly described. The objective of this study was to describe the arthroscopic findings and short-term outcome following arthroscopic treatment in toy and small breed dogs with FCP. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Arthroscopic findings were available from 13 elbows (12 dogs). Outcome data ≥4 wk postoperatively were available for nine elbows. Owner satisfaction scores were available for 10 elbows. Common preoperative findings included lameness, elbow pain, and imaging abnormalities consistent with FCP. Displaced FCP was the most common FCP lesion identified. Cartilage lesions at the medial coronoid process were identified in 92.3% of elbows (n = 12), with a median Outerbridge score of 4 (range 1-5). Concurrent cartilage lesions of the medial humeral condyle were identified in 76.9% of elbows (n = 10). Seven of nine elbows had full or acceptable function postoperatively. Median owner outcome satisfaction was 91% (range 10-100). FCP should be considered a cause of thoracic limb lameness in toy and small breed dogs. Arthroscopy can be safely and effectively used to diagnose and treat FCP in these breeds.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27259019/