Download PDF
Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2013; 26(02): 140-146
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-11-11-0160
Case Report
Schattauer GmbH

Surgical management of radial head luxation in a dog using an external skeletal traction device

N. Fitzpatrick
1   Fitzpatrick Referrals, Eashing, Godalming, Surrey, United Kingdom
,
R. Yeadon
1   Fitzpatrick Referrals, Eashing, Godalming, Surrey, United Kingdom
,
M. Farrell
1   Fitzpatrick Referrals, Eashing, Godalming, Surrey, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 14 November 2011

Accepted 16 September 2012

Publication Date:
18 December 2017 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Summary

A five-month-old Airedale Terrier was presented with a history of right thoracic limb lameness. Clinical and radiographic examinations revealed caudolateral luxation of the right radial head. Surgical intervention involved an oblique proximal radial osteotomy and gradual craniomedial traction of the radial head using an external skeletal fixator (ESF) incorporating a traction device. The radial head was gradually reduced over 16 days. After radiographic confirmation of appropriate radial head reduction, a consolidation phase followed, with removal of the traction ESF after 24 days. Follow-up radiographs documented remodelling of the radial head. Clinical follow-up three years postoperatively revealed nearly normal ground reaction forces. Activity was unrestricted and there was no requirement for analgesic medications.

Keywords

Radial head - luxation - congenital - elbow - incongruity
 

  • References

  • 1 Evans HE, Christiensen GC. In: Evans HE, Christiensen GC. editors. Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company; 1979. pg. 499.
  • 2 Kene ROC, Lee R, Bennett D. The radiological features of congenital elbow luxation/subluxation in the dog. J Small Anim Pract 1982; 23: 621-630.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Campbell JR. Nonfracture injuries to the canine elbow. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1969; 155: 735-744.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Milton JL, Montgomery RD. Congenital elbow dislocations. Vet Clin N Am 1987; 17: 873-888.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Miura T. Congenital dislocation of the radial head. J Hand Surg (Br) 1990; 15: 477-481.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Grondalen J. Malformation of the elbow joint in an Afghan hound litter. J Small Anim Pract 1973; 14: 83-89.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Stevens DR, Sande RD. An elbow dysplasia syndrome in the dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1974; 165: 1065-1069.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Bingel SA, Riser WH. Congenital elbow luxation in the dog. J Small Anim Pract 1977; 18: 445-456.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Gurevitch R, Hohn BR. Surgical management of lateral luxation and subluxation of the canine radial head. Vet Surg 1980; 9: 49-57.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Skaggs S, DeAngelis MP, Rosen H. Deformities due to premature closure of the distal ulna in fourteen dogs. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1973; 9: 496-500.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Ramadan RO, Vaughan LC. Premature closure of the distal ulnar growth plate in dogs - a review of 58 cases. J Small Anim Pract 1978; 19: 647-667.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Pass MA, Ferguson JG. A review of elbow dislocation in the dog. J Small Anim Pract 1971; 12: 327-332.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Dassler C, Vasseur PB. Elbow luxation. In: Slatter DG. editor. Textbook of Small Animal Surgery. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company; 2003. pg. 1919-1927.
    Google Scholar
  • 14 Clark KJ, Jerram RM, Walker AM. Surgical management of suspected congenital luxation of the radial head in three dogs. New Zealand Vet J 2010; 58: 103-109.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Impellizeri JA, Tetrick MA, Muir P. Effect of weight reduction on clinical signs of lameness in dogs with hip osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000; 216: 1089-1091.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Piermattei DL, Johnson KA. Approach to the head and proximal metaphysis of the radius. In: Piermattei DL, Johnson KA. (eds). An Atlas of Surgical Approaches to the Bones and Joints of the Dog and Cat. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company; 2004. pg. 242-245.
    Google Scholar
  • 17 Campbell JR. Congenital luxation of the elbow of the dog. Vet Ann 1979; 19: 229-236.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Spadari A, Romagnoli N, Venturini A. A modified Bell-Tawse procedure for surgical correction of congenital elbow luxation in a Dalmatian puppy. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2001; 14: 210-213.
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Fafard AR. Unilateral congenital elbow luxation in a Dachshund. Can Vet J 2006; 47: 909-912.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Seel MJ, Peterson HA. Management of chronic radial head dislocation in children. J Ped Orthop 1999; 19: 306-312.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Piermattei DL, Flo GL, DeCamp CE. Congenital luxation of the radial head. In: Brinker, Piermattei and Flo’s Handbook of Small Animal Orthopedics and Fracture Repair. Missouri: Saunders Elselvier; 2006. pg. 336-339.
    Google Scholar
  • 22 Stallings JT, Lewis DD, Welch RD. et al. An introduction to distraction osteogenesis and the principles of the Ilizarov method. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 1998; 11: 59-67.
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Rahal SC, Volpi RS, Vulcano LC. Treatment of segmental tibial defects using acute bone shortening followed by gradual lengthening with circular external fixator. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2005; 52: 180-185.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 McCartney WT. Limb lengthening in three dogs using distraction rates without a latency period. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2008; 21: 446-450.
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar