The elbow

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are noninvasive methods of imaging the canine cubital joint. CT images are typically acquired using contiguous 1-mm slices, a bone reconstruction algorithm, and a field of view large enough to scan both elbows simultaneously. CT provides a detailed assessment of the medial coronoid process (MCP), radial incisure, anconeal process, and trochlear notch of the ulna; the humeral condyle; joint congruity; and osteoarthrosis. With MRI, use of a surface coil and 3D Fourier transformation gradient echo fast imaging sequences allow contiguous thin slices to be obtained. Both imaging techniques appear to be highly effective in the evaluation of elbow dysplasia, particularly for the detection of MCP fragmentation, although MRI is superior to CT for identifying nonmineralized cartilaginous fragments.     

Hygroma of the elbow in dogs.

Two serious complications-infection and skin ulceration-have been associated with the treatment of elbow hygromas in large and giant breed dogs. Infection in 3 dogs followed the injection of a corticosteroid preparation into the cavity of the hygroma. Skin ulceration developed in 6 dogs following excision of the hygroma and wound breakdown. These skin ulcers were eventually closed by a simple reconstructive procedure. It is recommended that hygromas should not be treated by aspiration and injection of corticosteroid preparations, or by excision. A simple drainage procedure was used successfully in the treatment of 18 hygromas.     

Congenital elbow luxation in the dog

Four cases of bilateral and two cases of unilateral congenital elbow luxation in the dog were reviewed. In all cases, lameness was severe, osseous abnormalities were marked, and the dislocations primarily involved the humeroulnar articulation. Treatment consisted of closed reduction and external support in one dog and surgical reduction and stabilization in four dogs. One dog died before surgery could be performed. Treatment resulted in return of function to the affected limbs, even though osseous abnormalities and varying degrees of malarticulation persisted. Posttreatment observations, for as long as 4 years, demonstrated the persistence of near normal function of the limbs and minimal elbow deformity.     

Congenital elbow dislocations

Three categories of congenital elbow dislocations are described in the literature: humeroulnar, humeroradial, and dislocation or joint laxity with other congenital anomalies. Congenital humeroulnar dislocation is a well-defined problem that occurs predominantly in small breeds of dogs and causes severe limb deformity and dysfunction. Early reduction and stabilization are simple to achieve and have provided good results. Radial head dislocations occur most often as a result of growth disturbance of the radius and ulna. There is a lack of conclusive information on congenital radial head dislocations. Regardless of the etiology, radial head dislocation causes rather mild deformity and lameness and can be treated by conservative management, surgical correction, or radial head ostectomy. Dislocation of the elbow may occur concurrently with other rare congenital anomalies and has been described with ectrodactyly and polyarthrodysplasia.     

Genetic evaluation of elbow angles as predictors of elbow dysplasia in German shepherd dogs

Elbow angles were measured in X-rays of both elbows to elucidate the usefulness of such data for selecting against elbow dysplasia (ED) in German shepherd dogs. These measurements record the size, proportions and alignments of the anconeal process (PA), the radius (RA), the olecranon (OL), and the ulnar trochlear notch (UL). The reference system for evaluating the information content of the measurements was the score for ED (ED-SV) as recommended by the International Elbow Working Group. Data from 2645 X-rayed dogs born from 1998 to 2001 in 1331 kennels were analysed by using residual maximum likelihood procedures to estimate heritabilities, additive genetic correlations and residual correlations. The pedigree file included 11,426 dogs and contained ancestors for up to six generations. ED-SV was significantly influenced by sex, by age within sex and by month of birth. The elbow angles were significantly influenced by the month and year of birth, X-ray positioning of the dog's forelimbs, angle of elbow flection, litter size and number of dogs X-rayed by the veterinary practitioners. The following heritability estimates were found: h2=0.18+/-0.04 for ED; h2=0.76+/-0.04 for OL; h2=0.52+/-0.05 for PA; h2=0.50+/-0.04 for UL; and h2=0.39+/-0.04 for RA. The additive genetic correlations of ED-SV with three elbow angles (OL, UL and RA) were close to zero. A higher additive genetic correlation to ED-SV was found only for PA, for which r(g)=0.31. The distributions of predicted breeding values for susceptibility to ED were not affected by regarding the elbow angles as additional traits in the multivariate prediction procedure. Measurements of elbow angles were thus shown to be unsuitable for use in selection programmes against ED in German shepherd dogs.     

Osteochondrosis of the elbow joint in young dogs

Osteochondrosis is a failure of the normal process of endochondral ossification. In the elbow joint there are three manifestations of osteochondrosis, namely osteochondritis dissecans of the medial condyle of the humerus, ununited coronoid process and ununited anconeal process. This paper describes a series of sixty-eight cases diagnosed at a referral centre over a 10-year period. Ununited coronoid process and OCD of the medial condyle are not readily diagnosed because the lesions are difficult to demonstrate radiographically, but signs of degenerative joint disease of the elbow in young dogs of the medium to large breeds is strongly suggestive. Surgical treatment is indicated and the surgical approach to the medial aspect of the joint is described.     

Ultrasonography of the equine elbow technique and normal appearance

This study was intended to document normal ultrasonographic appearance of the equine elbow and anatomic landmarks useful in clinical imaging. Both forelimbs of five equine cadavers and both forelimbs of six live adult horses were used (4 Arabian-Barbes, 3 Arabs, 2 Anglo-Arabs, 1 Selle Français, 1 Anglo-Hispano-Arab, three to 18 years old). To facilitate the reading of the scans, a zoning system was developed for some anatomic structures. Ultrasonography was performed with a real-time B-mode semi-portable sector scanner using 7.5 & 5 MHz transducers. On one cadaver limb, MRI was performed on a system at 1.5 Tesla, T1 weighted spin echo, TR of 475 msec, RE of 15 msec, image matrix size 179 × 256 pixels. Ultrasonography images were compared with gross anatomy and with MRI scans to provide the normal ultrasonographic representation of the equine elbow. The lateral collateral ligament, the triceps brachii tendon with its subtendinous bursa, the proximal tendon of the ulnaris lateralis and the articular cartilage of the humeral trochlea were easy to examine ultrasonographically. The medial collateral ligament and the distal biceps brachii tendon required more expertise to assess. Ultrasonographic appearance and course of these structures are described. The 7.5 MHz transducer was best to be used. Ultrasonographic findings correlated well with MRI scans and with gross anatomy in the cadavers' limbs.