Approach to Joint Dysplasia Flashcards
What is hip dysplasia?
Developmental disease of the coxofemoral joint
What does hipdysplasia cause
laxity and inadequate coverage of the femoral head by the acetabulum
What is the etiopathology of hip dysplasia?
Cause is unknown
it is a genetic disease with a complex inheritance pattern
How do young dogs present with hip dysplasia?
Exercise intolerance, reluctancy to climb stairs and jump, muscular atrophy, bunny hopping, short gait, narrow stance
How do old dogs present with hip dysplasia?
Degenerative joint disease so decreased activity level, change in behaviour associated with pain
shoulder muscle hypertrophy because of cranial weight shift
What is the purpose of the ortolani test?
To examine the hip for laxity with the animal positioned in lateral recumbancy
rarely positive in mature dogs due to shallowness of the acetabulum and fibrosis of the joint capsule
How do you assess joint laxity?
Measure the norberg angle (over 105 degrees is normal)
What are the signs of bone remodelling?
Blunting of the acetabular rim, flattening of the femoral head, subluxation, thickening of the
femoral head, deposition of osteophytes which usually starts at the attachment of the joint
capsule (Morgan’s line)
What is the definition of elbow dysplasia?
Group of developmental diseases with a genetic and
environmental component that overtime leads to
degenerative joint disease (DJD)
What is medial coronoid process disease?
Cartilage erosions affecting the medial aspect of the canine elbow.
Ethiology: unknown. Might be correlated with mechanical overload and/or incongruity of the
elbow joint
How does MCPD present?
Lameness unilateral or bilateral
Abnormal gait (stiff or stilted with
shortened steps)
Young dogs
Worse after exercise or immediately
after rest
large breeds» small/medium breeds
What would you do on the clinical exam for MCPD?
Pain on full elbow extension.
Pain on flexion/extension of the elbow
and lateral rotation of the foot
Effusion, thickened joint(s).
< ROM
Crepitus
What is osteochondritis dissecans of the medial humeral condyle?
Osteochondritis dissecans is a joint condition in which bone underneath the cartilage dies due to lack of blood flow. This bone and cartilage can then break loose, causing pain and possibly hindering joint motion.
How does osteochondritis dissecans of the medial humeral condyle present?
Forelimb lameness or stiffness and
stilted gait
Worse after exercise or immediately
after resting
Young dogs 5-8 months of age
Breeds: retrievers, Bernese mountain
dogs, Rottweilers, large/giant breeds.
What do you notice on the clinical exam for osteochondritis dissecans of the medial humeral condyle
Joint swelling
Varus of the elbow and valgus of the
carpi
Pain on deep palpation over the
medial collateral ligament
In older patients: crepitus and < ROM
