Lecture 14 - Forelimb Conditions in Dogs and Cats

Question 1

how do scapulohumeral medial luxations occur in toy breed dogs

Answer 1

congenital

Question 2

“congenital” or acquired medial luxations of the scapulohumeral joint are typically seen in

Answer 2

usually older dogs (> 7 years)

Question 3

what dictates success of reduction of a medial scapulohumeral luxation?

Answer 3

dictated by the integrity or conformation of the glenoid cavity - but it will often reluxate

Question 4

what is the treatment of a medial scapulohumeral luxation?

Answer 4

surgical: transect the transverse humeral ligament. remove the tendon of the biceps from that grove and place it MEDIALLY to support the medial side of the joint, secure with a pin on the medial side.

Question 5

lateral luxation of the scapulohumeral joint occurs in what type of dogs?

Answer 5

large breed dogs due to major trauma - high impact

Question 6

how do you diagnose lateral luxation of the scapulohumeral joint?

Answer 6

requires craniocaudal radiograph

Question 7

lateral luxation of the scapulohumeral joint means a loss of integrity of the _____, ______, _______

Answer 7

1. infraspinatus muscle
2. lateral glenohumeral ligament
3. lateral joint capsule

Question 8

what is the tx for bicipital tenosynovitis?

Answer 8

can initially treat with one intra-articular steroid injection

most successful –> bicipital tendon release (with or without transposition of the origin). its more comfortable if you completely transect it - but not for athletes

Question 9

what is the second most common luxation after hip luxations?

Answer 9

elbow luxations!

Question 10

in traumatic elbow luxations, which bones are luxated?

Answer 10

the radius and ulna are displaced LATERALLY!

Question 11

how do you diagnose traumatic elbow luxations?

Answer 11

obtain orthogonal view radiographs: you cannot evaluate from the lateral radiograph, you need the c/c view.

Question 12

how do you treat traumatic elbow luxations?

Answer 12

1. under anesthesia
2. first you FLEX FLEX FLEX the elbow to relocate the anconeal process underneath the capitulum (humerus) and slide it back into hte olecranon fossa (humerus).
3. then use the anconeal process as a fulcrum to roll the radial head in (medially).
4. coapt limb in EXTENSION via a spica splint

Question 13

how should you coapt a traumatic elbow luxation

Answer 13

in EXTENSION via a spica splint

this locks the anoconeal process into place to stabilize

Question 14

how do you treat a congenital elbow luxation

Answer 14

EARLY EARLY EARLY surgical intervention! its the only chance of success!

Question 15

where do most angular limb deformities occur?

Answer 15

in the antebrachium because the shape of the growth plate and paired bone system have to work together

Question 16

which part of the ulna is responsible for most of its bone growth?

Answer 16

the distal ulnar physis is responsible for 85% of ulnar growth

Question 17

which part of the radius is responsible for most of the its growth?

Answer 17

the distal radial physis is responsible for 60% of the radial growth

Question 18

with acute trauma in a skeletally immature animal, what should you make the owner very aware of?

Answer 18

owner must be warned for the potential of growth disturbances following any trauma to the appendicular skeleton in an immature animal

Question 19

how do you treat angular limb deformities?

Answer 19

in the skeletally immature dog: involvement of adjacent growth plates (cut the offending bone, so the normal bone can drag the damaged bone out to an appropriate length. goal is to spare the elbow)

in a skeletally mature dog - do a definitive correction

Question 20

in what type of dog do we typically see carpal hyperextension injuries?

Answer 20

hunting dogs! and dobermans

Question 21

what causes carpal hyperextension injuries?

Answer 21

rupture of the palmar fibrocartilage and ventral carpal ligaments

Question 22

how do we treat carpal hyperextension injuries?

Answer 22

we do either a partial carpal, or pancarpal arthrodesis.

coaptation DOES NOT work!! individual ligament repair does not work either

Question 23

how do we define the level of instability in a carpal hyperextension injury?

Answer 23

take a stress view radiograph

Question 24

what is causes hyperextension of the limb, adduction of the elbow, and abduction of the paw?

Answer 24

infraspinutus contracture