Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Small breed dog limping from retained cartilage in front leg bone
By Nelson, J T et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2023·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retained cartilaginous core in the distal radius of a small breed dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-month-old Smooth Fox Terrier was brought in for limping on his right front leg that had been going on for a month. The vet found pain in the elbow and some swelling in the lower part of the leg. X-rays and a CT scan revealed an issue with the bone structure in the radius, which was causing problems with the elbow joint. The dog underwent surgery to correct the bone alignment and was put on a strict activity plan for eight weeks. At a follow-up appointment 16 weeks later, the dog was no longer limping or in pain, and the bone had healed properly.
People also search for: puppy limping front leg · Smooth Fox Terrier elbow pain · dog surgery for bone issues
Abstract
A 5-month-old castrated male Smooth Fox Terrier presented for a 1-month history of right thoracic limb lameness. Physical examination revealed right elbow pain on extension and mild soft tissue swelling of the distal antebrachium. Radiographs and computed tomography showed elongated focal radiolucent regions in the distal radial metaphysis. There was incongruity of the right elbow with a short radius. Bone biopsy and histopathology of the regions confirmed a retained cartilaginous core characterised by bony trabeculae with frequently retained central cartilaginous cores. A dynamic proximal ulnar ostectomy was performed to improve elbow congruity. The owner was instructed to restrict activity to short leash walks for 8 weeks followed by a gradual activity increase. On follow-up examination 16 weeks after operatively, the lameness and elbow pain were resolved. Radiographs at that time showed a healed ulnar ostectomy, proper elbow congruity, and resolved retained cartilaginous core.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36720228/