Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Long-term results after surgery for shoulder cartilage disease in dogs
By Zann, Geoffrey J et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2023·Department of Veterinary 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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Long-term outcome of dogs treated by surgical debridement of proximal humeral osteochondrosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with shoulder problems due to a condition called proximal humeral osteochondrosis (OC) underwent surgery to remove damaged tissue. Over a year later, while all dogs showed signs of arthritis and some muscle loss in the affected shoulder, most owners reported that their pets were still moving well. The dogs did have some subtle limping, but the overall mobility was considered satisfactory by their owners. This suggests that while joint issues may progress, many dogs can still lead a comfortable life after surgery.
People also search for: dog shoulder surgery recovery · osteochondrosis in dogs · dog limping after surgery · dog arthritis treatment options · how to help my dog with joint pain
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term clinical outcomes of dogs surgically treated for proximal humeral osteochondrosis (OC). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Twenty dogs (n = 26 shoulders). METHODS: Dogs treated with surgical debridement of proximal humeral OC lesions >12 months prior were enrolled. Orthopedic examination (including limb circumference and shoulder goniometry), kinetic gait analysis, shoulder radiographs, shoulder computed tomography (CT), and shoulder arthroscopy were performed. All owners completed a dog mobility questionnaire. RESULTS: Brachial circumference (P = .003) and maximum shoulder extension (P = .013) were decreased and maximum shoulder flexion (P = .008) was increased (ie less flexion) in the OC limb versus the contralateral limb in unilaterally affected dogs. There were no differences in peak vertical force and vertical impulse between affected and unaffected limbs. Dogs demonstrated a 4.4% decrease in load distributed to the operated limb. Osteoarthritis was present in all shoulders treated for OC lesions. The degree of osteoarthritis in OC-affected shoulders was increased compared to the contralateral limb as evaluated on CT (P = .005) and radiography (P = .0001) in unilaterally affected cases. Moderate-to-severe synovitis was seen in all OC-affected joints. Arthroscopically, all lesions were noted to have patchy, incomplete cartilaginous infilling. Median of aggregate Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) scores was 6. CONCLUSION: All dogs exhibited ipsilateral muscle atrophy and progressive osteoarthritis, with most dogs exhibiting subtle lameness on the subjective gait examination. Despite this, owner-perceived mobility was satisfactory. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Progression of joint disease over time should be expected; however, the abnormalities detected on examination appear to be of questionable clinical relevance.
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/36086929/