Evaluation of a Canine Total‐Elbow Arthroplasty System: A Preliminary Study in Normal Dogs

Abstract

Based on 1-year data, TEA can be successfully performed in dogs and could be considered as a treatment alternative for adult dogs with severe osteoarthritis and lameness of the elbow joint.

Short‐term outcome after total elbow arthroplasty in dogs with severe, naturally occurring osteoarthritis

“…The TEA system that we evaluated was a nonconstrained system using 2 components, a humeral and radioulnar component, which required cement fixation. The design of the components was modified from those previously reported 8 . The principal changes in the humeral component were angulation of the stem, altered lateral grooves for increased surface area, and rounding of the articulating surface (Fig 1).…”

“…Computer‐assisted force platform gait analysis was performed using a biomechanical platform (OR6‐6‐1000; Advanced Mechanical Technology, Inc., Watertown, MA) embedded in an 8‐m walkway. Velocity and acceleration were measured as previously described 8 . Dogs were walked across the platform (trial velocity between 1.10 to 1.40 m/s, acceleration variation ± 0.5 m/s 2 ), and ground‐reaction forces for the forelimb and hindlimb were recorded (Sharon Software, Inc, Dewitt, MI) for the first 5 valid trials obtained for each limb.…”

“…When this system was tested in normal Greyhound dogs, however, it was concluded that only moderate success could be achieved because of the design constraints. Recently, TEA was described as successful in 3 of 6 normal dogs using a nonconstrained system 8 . In that study, dogs that had a successful outcome had function of the operated limb return to near normal 1‐year after surgery.…”

Anex vivoinvestigation of the effect of theTATEcanine elbow arthroplasty system on kinematics of the elbow

“…To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to objectively evaluate a canine elbow arthroplasty system's efficacy to replicate the axis of the joint. Previous reports (Conzemius et al , ) have not evaluated this parameter. An arthroplasty system employing components that are cemented separately rather than placed as a single unit may have the potential for greater postoperative variation from the preoperative COR axis.…”

“…Canine elbow arthroplasty was first described by Lewis (), who developed a constrained system implanted into research dogs, the results of which were never published, but which was associated with a high clinical complication rate and the project was subsequently abandoned. Conzemius & Aper () described a semi‐constrained cemented elbow arthroplasty which was implanted in healthy research dogs (Conzemius et al ) and subsequently 20 dogs with severe elbow osteoarthritis (Conzemius et al ). Objective force‐plate analysis in this latter study revealed “satisfactory” outcomes in 80% of dogs; however, up to 20% of patients have been reported to experience serious complications with this system including infection, luxation and humeral condylar or ulnar fracture (Conzemius et al 2003, Dejardin & Guillou , Innes ).…”