Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Elbow joint misalignment and front leg lameness in dogs
By Samoy, Y et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T·2006·Department of Medical Imaging and Orthopedics·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Review of the literature: elbow incongruity in the dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog with elbow problems may show signs of limping or difficulty using their front leg due to a condition called elbow incongruity, which means the joint surfaces aren't aligned properly. This misalignment can lead to painful conditions like loose bone fragments and is a common cause of front leg lameness in dogs. While there are various ways to diagnose this issue, including CT scans and arthroscopy, treatment often involves surgery, such as an ulnar osteotomy, to correct the joint alignment. However, the effectiveness of different surgical methods is still being studied.
People also search for: dog limping front leg · elbow dysplasia treatment · dog elbow surgery options
Abstract
Elbow incongruity is the term to describe bad alignment of the joint surfaces of the elbow. Two features illustrate incongruity of the elbow: an abnormal shape of the ulnar trochlear notch and a step between the radius and ulna, caused by either a short radius or a short ulna. It has been suggested that both an elliptical notch, and a step, can cause increased local pressure within the joint, resulting in loose fragments at different locations: ununited anconeal process (UAP), fragmented coronoid process (FCP), osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral condyle (OCD). These lesions are grouped under the term 'elbow dysplasia' and are the most frequent causes of front leg lameness in the dog. Although several radiographic features to diagnose incongruity have been described, the 'scoring' of incongruity is subjective because there is currently no objective method to measure the degree of incongruity. Because superimposition is avoided, CT is suggested as a standard technique to measure incongruity. Arthroscopy on the other hand, allows the direct visualisation of the intra-articular structures and their abnormalities. Information on both techniques are still relatively new. Several surgical techniques have been proposed to restore joint congruity; the one most frequently used is an ulnar osteotomy. But because of possible complications, other techniques are being developed. Reports evaluating the results of the different techniques are not yet available.
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/16594537/