Impact of breed on canine humeral condylar fracture configuration, surgical management, and outcome

Abstract

Objective: To report the prevalence, configuration, risk factors, fixation methods and outcomes after repair of humeral condylar fractures (HCF) in dogs. Study design:Retrospective nested cohort study. Sample population: One hundred twelve dogs.Methods: Medical records of dogs referred between January 2010 and August 2018 were searched for HCF. Demographics, fracture configuration, repair, and complications were obtained from medical records. Radiographs were assessed for fracture reduction, implant positioning, and bone healing. Short-term radiographic and clinical outcomes, and long-term owner-assessed outcome was determined. Associations between these variables were statistically analyzed. Results: Dogs with HCF represented 112 of 43 325 (0.26%, 95% CI 0.22-0.31) referrals. French bulldogs and spaniel breeds were predisposed to HCF (P < .02).French bulldogs were 6.58 times (95% CI 1.62-26.7) more likely than other breeds to have a medial HCF (P = .008). Epicondylar plate fixation was associated with reduced complications compared with lag screws and Kirschner wires (P = .009). Lameness was scored as 1 of 5 (median) in the 85 dogs with initial follow-up (median 6 weeks) after HCF repair. Outcome was considered excellent in 26 of 31 dogs with long-term follow-up (median 36 months). Conclusion: French bulldogs and spaniels were predisposed to HCF, and medial HCF were more common in French bulldogs. Epicondylar plate fixation was associated with reduced complications.Clinical significance: French bulldogs are predisposed to HCF, including medial HCF. Epicondylar plate fixation is recommended over other epicondylar fixation methods to reduce complications.

Repair of Fractures of the Lateral Aspect of the Humeral Condyle in Skeletally Mature Dogs with Locking and Non-Locking Plates

“…1,9,18 Recently, French bulldogs have been identified as being over-represented for humeral condylar fractures. 19 This is not replicated in this study. This may be because the mean age of the cohort in this study was above that reported for French bulldogs suffering FLHC, different predisposing factors for FLHC in French Bulldogs compared with Spaniel breeds or because this study excluded fractures of the medial aspect of the humeral condyle.…”

“…This may be because the mean age of the cohort in this study was above that reported for French bulldogs suffering FLHC, different predisposing factors for FLHC in French Bulldogs compared with Spaniel breeds or because this study excluded fractures of the medial aspect of the humeral condyle. [19][20][21] The lateral aspect of the distal humerus is a challenging area in which to apply a plate due to the required contouring. Additionally, plate screws directed lateral-medial toward the anconeal fossa must be short or monocortical to avoid impinging on the anconeal process.…”

Effect of Induced Incomplete Ossification of the Humeral Condyle on Ex Vivo Humeral Condylar Biomechanics

“…In our population, all osteotomized humeri had fractures through the lateral aspect of the humeral condyle, while in spaniel breeds and all breeds, about one-third and two-third of fractures occur through the lateral aspect of the humeral condyle respectively. 1,13,26 Our study has several limitations. Lesions created in the humeral condyles were complete from the supratrochlear foramen to the distal articular surface of the humerus.…”

French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders: a VetCompass study

“…Given the extremely brachycephalic conformation of the French Bulldog [ 12 ], it is unsurprising that many of these reported predispositions relate to the severely flattened skull phenotype of the breed, including issues around brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome [ 13 ], upper respiratory tract disorders [ 14 ], corneal ulceration [ 15 ], prolapse of the nictitating membrane [ 16 ] and stenotic nares [ 17 ]. French Bulldogs have also been reported with predispositions to other disorders including hemivertebrae and vertebral kyphosis [ 18 , 19 ] dystocia [ 20 ], elbow dysplasia [ 21 ], patellar luxation [ 22 ], skin fold dermatitis [ 23 ], screw tail [ 24 ] and demodicosis [ 25 ]. However, although these previous reports provide some useful information, it is not easy to prioritise the welfare impacts from these predisposed disorders on French Bulldogs overall because these earlier results derived from such a diversity of studies with diverse sample sizes, source populations, comparator groups, case definitions and study designs [ 26 ].…”