Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
English bulldog puppy with elbow joint bone fragments
By Shetler, Samantha E et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2022·Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, United States·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: The use of lateral arthroscopy portals for the management of bilateral osteochondritis dissecans of the radial head in an English bulldog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-month-old female spayed English bulldog was brought in for limping on her left front leg, which was traced to issues in her elbow joint. Imaging showed mineralized fragments in both elbows, indicating a condition called osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), where cartilage and bone develop abnormally. The vet performed a specialized surgery using lateral arthroscopy to remove the fragments and smooth the joint surfaces. Five months later, the dog showed no signs of lameness or pain, indicating a successful recovery.
People also search for: English bulldog elbow pain · dog osteochondritis dissecans treatment · puppy limping on front leg
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report a case of bilateral radial head osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in a dog treated via lateral elbow arthroscopy portals. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMALS: Six month old female spayed English bulldog. METHODS: The dog was presented for a left thoracic limb lameness localized to the elbow. Computed tomography revealed bilaterally symmetrical mineralized fragments in the lateral compartment of the elbow joint and blunting of the medial coronoid processes. The fragments were associated with a thin donation bed along the caudolateral articular surface of the radial head with moderate surrounding subchondral bone sclerosis. Bilateral elbow arthroscopy was pursued. Arthroscopy was initiated via a standard medial approach, which allowed for abrasion arthroplasty of the radial incisure and medial coronoid process but provided insufficient access to the radial head lesions. A lateral arthroscopic approach was subsequently performed and provided excellent access to the radial head for fragment retrieval and abrasion arthroplasty. RESULTS: Histopathology of the radial head fragments revealed mild cartilage degeneration and retention of cartilaginous cores within subchondral bone, consistent with OCD. Complete resolution of lameness and elbow pain were observed on clinical examination 5 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Radial head OCD can occur as a rare component of elbow dysplasia in growing dogs, and fragment retrieval with abrasion arthroplasty via lateral arthroscopic portals may be an effective treatment option.
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/36056530/