Arthroscopy in the dog: The elbow

Arthroscopy in the dog is a generally accepted technique to diagnose and treat several joint disorders. Despite numerous courses and the support of various companies, arthroscopy is not routinely performed by every surgeon. The main reason is the long learning curve because of specific difficulties due to the small size of the joints. With the development of small, high-quality optics and instruments, canine arthroscopy became more feasible. In the dog, arthroscopy is most frequently performed in the elbow, shoulder and stifle joint. In the stifle joint cranial cruciate ligament and medial meniscus injuries are the most important indications for arthroscopy. In contrast, developmental cartilage disorders are more important in the elbow and shoulder joint, since mostly young dogs of popular breeds are affected ...