Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Medial shoulder instability treated by tendon tightening in dogs
By Pettitt, R A et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2007·Small Animal Teaching Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Stabilisation of medial shoulder instability by imbrication of the subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of five dogs with medial shoulder instability, which caused lameness, were treated with a surgical procedure called subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion imbrication. Initial treatments, including medication and arthroscopy, did not fully relieve their symptoms. After the surgery, three dogs completely recovered from their lameness, while two showed partial improvement. This procedure helped restore normal shoulder function and is considered a moderately effective option for dogs that do not respond to other treatments.
People also search for: dog shoulder lameness treatment · medial shoulder instability in dogs · subscapularis tendon surgery for dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion imbrication as a treatment for medial shoulder instability. METHODS: Medial shoulder instability was diagnosed in five dogs. Initial management with medical or arthroscopic treatment failed to fully resolve lameness in four of the cases. Each case was treated by subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion imbrication. An anatomical model of medial shoulder instability was used to assess the effect of subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion imbrication on the angle of abduction of the shoulder. RESULTS: In clinical study, subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion imbrication was performed in five cases. Lameness resolved fully in three cases and partially in two cases. In cadaver study, transection of either the subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion or the subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion and medial glenohumeral ligament significantly increased the angle of abduction. Imbrication of the subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion significantly reduced the angle of abduction. No significant differences were noted between the angle of abduction of normal shoulder and the shoulder with medial shoulder instability treated by subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion imbrication. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion imbrication is a moderately effective procedure for the management of medial shoulder instability unresponsive to medical and/or arthroscopic management. The angle of abduction of the shoulder was returned to normal in model of medial shoulder instability, following subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion. Subscapularis muscle tendon of insertion imbrication provides a relatively simple method of treating medial shoulder instability in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17608658/