Congenital elbow luxation in the dog

Abstract

Anatomical and pathological descriptions of five congenital elbow luxations and subluxations in three dogs were based on palpation, radiographs, gross dissection and in one dog, surgical correction. The primary defect in all five joints was hypoplasia, or aplasia, of the medial collateral ligament. The osseous deformities consisted of outward rotation of the proximal ulna, hypoplasia, or aplasia, of the coronoid process, anconeal process and radial notch and a shallow trochlear notch. The proximal ulna was rotated approximately 40–45°. The olecranon was deviated laterally and dorso‐cranially. The syndrome was compared with the deformities of congenital luxation of the radial head in children. An embryonic pathogenesis for congenital elbow luxations in dogs was hypothesized.

Surgical management of suspected congenital luxation of the radial head in three dogs

“…Congenital luxation of the elbow constitutes a distinct pathological entity from those luxations occurring secondary to premature closure of the growth plate (Bingel and Riser 1977;Gurevitch and Hohn 1980). Congenital luxation of the elbow may be further divided into humero-radial, humero-ulnar, or combined humeroradial and humero-ulnar luxation (Kene et al 1982).…”

“…Congenital luxation of the radial head is a recognised syndrome in humans, and is commonly associated with other congenital anomalies (Bingel and Riser 1977;Tachdjian 1997). However, whether luxation of the radial head is congenital in dogs is often diffi cult to establish due to late recognition of the deformity, and the similarity of radiographic fi ndings with luxations caused by physeal disturbances (Milton et al 1979).…”

“…There are a number of proposed causes for congenital luxation of the radius, however these theories are based on fi ndings from three cases of congenital humero-ulnar and humero-radial luxation of the elbow (Bingel and Riser 1977;Milton et al 1979;Gurevitch and Hohn 1980). Hypoplasia or aplasia of the annular ligament, medial coronoid process, or anconeal process have been suggested as the underlying cause of congenital luxation of the radial head (Milton et al 1979;Gurevitch and Hohn 1980).…”

“…An hereditary basis for congenital luxation of the radial head has also been suggested based on the frequency of bilateral involvement, occurrence of congenital luxation of the radial head in more than one littermate, occurrence of multiple anomalies, and embryonic stage at which the joint fails to develop properly (Grøndalen 1973;Stevens and Sande 1974;Bingel and Riser 1977;Montgomery and Tomlinson 1985). In humans, congenital luxation of the radial head occurs as a result of failure of normal formation and differentiation of the joint in the embryo, which is under genetic control (Bingel and Riser 1977).…”

Surgical management of ectrodactyly in a dog

“…There are reports of this disease in dogs (CARRIG et al, 1981;INNES et al, 2001;BARRAND, 2004;HARASEN, 2010), cats (MACRÍ et al, 2009), birds, monkeys, rats (COOPER et al, 1990, humans (SHANSKE et al, 2010), and cattle (MONTGOMERY et al, 1989). The surgical techniques used to correct this defect include pancarpal arthrodesis (KELLER; CHAMBERS, 1989), arthrodesis combined with ulnar osteotomy or ostectomy (INNES et al, 2001;HARASEN, 2010), and soft tissue reconstruction (BARRAND, 2004;LEIGHTON, 1983), while some surgeons choose to amputate the limb when the condition is unilateral (BINGEL;RISER, 1977;PRATSCHKE, 1996). Among the different ways used to evaluate the results of surgical treatment, subjective evaluation of support (degree of claudication) is important (FERREIRA, 2013).…”