Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgical fusion of metacarpal bones to treat dog's ectrodactyly
By Pisoni, L et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T·2014·Bologna University, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Surgical induction of metacarpal synostosis for treatment of ectrodactyly in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A young female dog with a rare condition called ectrodactyly (where the digits and bones in her paw are malformed) was experiencing moderate limping. To help her, the veterinarian performed surgery to reconstruct the soft tissues and stabilize the bones using nylon sutures. After three years, the dog showed only mild limping, and X-rays revealed that the bones had fused together properly, although there was still a small gap between some of the carpal bones.
People also search for: dog limping treatment · ectrodactyly in dogs · dog paw surgery recovery
Abstract
Ectrodactyly is a rare developmental anomaly of the distal part of the forelimb. It is characterized by the presence of an abnormal longitudinal soft tissue and osseous separation or cleft between the digits and the metacarpal bones. It can be associated with hypoplasia, aplasia and malformation of one or more bones of the antebrachium, carpus, metacarpus and digits. Unilateral ectrodactyly and moderate lameness were diagnosed in a young female dog. The dog was treated surgically with reconstruction of soft tissues and stabilization of the metacarpal bones by two nylon cerclage sutures. After three years a mild residual lameness was present. Radiographic signs of synostosis between the metacarpal bones II, III and IV with presence of a cleft between carpal bones II and III were observed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24569849/