Bilateral correction of metatarsal rotation in a dog using circular external skeletal fixation

Abstract

An 8-month-old castrated male Saint Bernard was evaluated for bilateral hind limb lameness. Lameness was ascribed to bilateral metatarsal rotational abnormalities on the basis of the physical examination and radiographic evaluations. Staged, bilateral deformity correction and tarsometatarsal arthrodeses were performed using circular external skeletal fixators. The dog's gait improved following surgery and the fixators were removed 3 (left hind paw) and 4 (right hind paw) months following surgery. Twenty months after the initial surgery, the owner reported that the dog was walking well without apparent lameness. Previous reports suggest that metatarsal rotation is untreatable; however, our results suggest that surgical correction of this deformity can substantially improve limb function in dogs affected with metatarsal rotation.

Determination of Pelvic Limb Alignment in the Large‐Breed Dog: A Cadaveric Radiographic Study in the Frontal Plane

“…ANGULAR DEFORMITIES of the canine pelvic limb have been reported to occur in the femur, tibia, and metatarsus 1–10 . Most previous reports of angular limb deformities in dogs have focused on the affected bone or paired bone systems alone, with little detail regarding the method used for quantification of the deformity.…”

“…A NGULAR DEFORMITIES of the canine pelvic limb have been reported to occur in the femur, tibia, and metatarsus. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Most previous reports of angular limb deformities in dogs have focused on the affected bone or paired bone systems alone, with little detail regarding the method used for quantification of the deformity. However, the overall alignment, and thus biomechanics, of an entire weight-bearing limb are likely to be affected even if the deformity is isolated to a single bone.…”

Correction of Rotational Deformity of the Pes with External Skeletal Fixation in Four Dogs

“…METATARSAL ROTATION, or external rotation of the pes, has been reported in Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Ambruzzese Shepherds, Great Pyrenees, and Saint Bernards 1–7 . Often bilateral, originating at the level of the proximal intertarsal joint, it results in external rotation of the pes.…”

“…Often bilateral, originating at the level of the proximal intertarsal joint, it results in external rotation of the pes. Metatarsal rotation, a congenital deformity of unknown cause, has been associated with polydactyly and double dewclaws 1–7 . Conformational changes in the tarsal bones, particularly the central tarsal bone, are believed to be the source of the deformity 1,6–8 .…”

“…Metatarsal rotation, a congenital deformity of unknown cause, has been associated with polydactyly and double dewclaws 1–7 . Conformational changes in the tarsal bones, particularly the central tarsal bone, are believed to be the source of the deformity 1,6–8 . Extraossification centers of the central tarsal bone develop that can mature into separate bone fragments or fuse to either the central, 1st, or 2nd tarsal bones or to the 1st metatarsal bone, resulting in abnormal bony prominences and an altered tarsal conformation 1–3,5–7 …”