Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How vets find shoulder causes of front leg lameness in medium
By Cogar, Steven M et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2008·University of Missouri, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prospective evaluation of techniques for differentiating shoulder pathology as a source of forelimb lameness in medium and large breed dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of medium and large breed dogs with forelimb lameness underwent various tests to find out if the problem was in their shoulders or elbows. The study found that dogs with shoulder issues were more likely to be lame than those with elbow problems. Techniques like measuring shoulder angles, ultrasound, and arthroscopy (a procedure to look inside the joint) were effective in diagnosing shoulder problems. Radiographs (X-rays) were helpful for elbow issues but not as much for shoulders. The results suggest that a combination of tests is important for accurately identifying the cause of lameness in dogs.
People also search for: dog forelimb lameness causes · shoulder problems in dogs · elbow pain in dogs · dog lameness diagnosis techniques
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess lameness evaluation, shoulder abduction angles, radiography, and ultrasonography for determining presence, location, and severity of forelimb pathology. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. ANIMALS: Dogs >or=20 kg (n=30). METHODS: Each dog was assigned lameness scores. Shoulder abduction angles were determined. Radiographs of shoulders and elbows were subjectively graded for pathology. One investigator unaware of dog history (lameness, radiographic findings) performed ultrasonographic assessment of shoulders with subjective grading of pathology. Another investigator unaware of dog history (lameness, radiographic, ultrasonographic findings) performed arthroscopic assessment of shoulders with subjective grading of pathology. Elbows were disarticulated and evaluated for gross pathology. Histologic pathology scoring of shoulder tissues was performed. Data were compared for differences among groups, sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-seven forelimbs were considered clinically normal, 26 had shoulder pathology, 5 had elbow pathology, and 2 had pathology of both the shoulder and elbow. Dogs with shoulder pathology were twice as likely to be lame compared with dogs with elbow pathology. Limbs with medial shoulder instability had significantly higher abduction angles than normal limbs and those with elbow pathology. Radiographs were clinically useful for diagnosing elbow, but not shoulder, pathology. Ultrasonography was clinically useful for diagnosing shoulder pathology other than instability. Abduction angles, ultrasonographic evaluation, and arthroscopic assessments had strong, significant correlations with reference standards. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically relevant diagnostic techniques yielded characteristic, repeatable differences in objective and subjective assessments for distinguishing presence, location, and severity of forelimb lameness in dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The diagnostic approach to forelimb lameness in dogs should include shoulder pathology as a differential with multiple assessments used to determine the clinical cause of lameness.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18251806/