Objectives: To determine the prevalence of incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle (IOHC) and other osseous abnormalities of the elbow in English Springer Spaniels with no history of lameness.
Methods: Prospective observational study of English Springer Spaniels with no recent history of lameness. Computed tomography scans of both elbows were obtained from dogs older than six months of age which were anaesthetized or sedated for reasons unrelated to this study. Computed tomography scans were reviewed for the presence of IOHC and other abnormalities of the elbow. Radioulnar incongruity (RUI) measurements from normal elbows were compared to elbows with IOHC and elbows with medial coronoid process (MCP) abnormalities.
Results: Computed tomography scans from 50 dogs (100 elbows) were reviewed. The prevalence of IOHC was 14% (8 elbows in 7 dogs). All condylar fissures were incomplete with a mean length of 2.6 mm. Fifty percent of the dogs (44% of elbows) had abnormalities of the medial coronoid process and 60% of the elbows had periarticular osteophytes. Group RUI meansurements for IOHC and MCP were not significantly different from normal elbows.
Clinical significance: Small IOHC fissures, periarticular osteophytes and MCP abnormalities may be identified in English Springer Spaniels without forelimb lameness. Abnormalities of the MCP are more common than IOHC.
Presented in part at the BVOA Spring Meeting, Birmingham, UK, March 2011.
6
Rovesti GL,
Fluckiger M,
Margini A.
et al. Fragmented coronoid process and incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle in a rottweiler. Vet Surg 1998; 27: 354-357.
8
Carrera I,
Hammond GJC,
Sullivan M.
Computed tomographic features of incomplete ossification of the canine humeral condyle. Vet Surg 2008; 37: 226-231.
9
Meyer-Lindenberg A,
Heinen V,
Fehr M.
et al. Incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle as the cause of lameness in dogs. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2002; 15: 187-194.
10
Martin RB,
Crews L,
Saveraid T.
et al. Prevalence of incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle in the limb opposite humeral condylar fracture: 14 dogs. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2010; 23: 168-172.
11
Groth AM,
Benigni L,
Moores AP.
et al. Spectrum of computed tomographic findings in 58 canine elbows with fragmentation of the medial coronoid process. J Small Anim Pract 2009; 50: 15-22.
13
Gemmill TJ,
Mellor DJ,
Clements DN.
et al. Evaluation of elbow incongruency sing reconstructed CT in dogs suffering fragmented coronoid process. J Small Anim Pract 2005; 46: 327-333.
14
Gemmill TJ,
Hammond G,
Mellor D.
et al. Use of reconstructed computed tomography for the assessment of joint spaces in the canine elbow. J Small Anim Pract 2006; 47: 66-74.
15
Witte PG,
Bush MA,
Scott HW.
Propagation of a partial incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle in an American cocker spaniel. J Sm Anim Pract 2010; 51: 591-593.
16
Farrell M,
Trevail T,
Marshall W.
et al. Computed tomographic documentation of the natural progression of humeral intracondylar fissure in a Cocker Spaniel. Vet Surg 2011; 40: 966-971.