Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Isolated talus bone fracture causing sudden hind leg lameness in two
By Wilkins, L M & Coomer, A R·Published in New Zealand veterinary journal·2023·Veterinary Specialists Aotearoa·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Isolated fracture of the talus with asymptomatic contralateral talar fissure in two dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two adult male dogs were brought to the vet because they suddenly started limping severely on their back legs. Both dogs showed pain and swelling in their ankles, but regular pain medication didn’t help. X-rays didn’t show much, but a CT scan revealed a fracture in the talus bone of one leg for each dog, along with some unusual changes in the other leg. The dogs were diagnosed with a specific type of talus fracture that can occur without significant injury. Further research is needed to understand why this happens, but the dogs received treatment for their fractures and are expected to recover.
People also search for: dog limping back leg · talus fracture in dogs · treatment for dog ankle injury
Abstract
CASE HISTORY: Two adult male dogs were separately presented for acute-onset, severe hind limb lameness isolated to the tarsus. There were no prior orthopaedic concerns and there was no significant trauma associated with the onset of lameness in either case. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Pain and effusion of the affected tarsus were found in both cases. Lameness was not responsive to oral analgesia. Radiography was insufficient to fully determine the extent of the damage in the tarsus; the fracture was visible in one case only. CT imaging demonstrated an isolated, lateral, trochlear ridge talar fracture in both cases and contralateral talar abnormalities of comparable location and direction to the fracture. DIAGNOSIS: Isolated lateral trochlear ridge fracture of the talus without significant trauma or concurrent injury. Abnormalities of talus of the contralateral limb were demonstrated on CT imaging. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A previously unrecognised pathological process may affect the talus of adult dogs that could predispose them to develop fracture of the lateral talar ridge without significant trauma. Further investigations are required to determine the prevalence and risk of fracture associated with this abnormality.: HIF: Humeral intercondylar fissure.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37455593/