Update on feline elbow disease

Non-traumatic conditions which have been documented to affect the feline elbow include medial humeral epicondylitis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), synovial osteochondromatosis, tuberculous osteoarthritis, histoplasmosis, synovial cysts, ununited medial humeral condylar ossification centers and congential conditions including elbow subluxation and elbow malformations secondary to radio-ulnar synostosis. The most common of these are medial humeral epicondylitis and elbow DJD. There is some debate as to whether medial coronoid process disease contributes to development of elbow DJD in cats, but the general consensus based on recent literature is that this is not a major cause of feline elbow-associated lameness.

In the experience of the author, it is very common for cats to be affected by multiple elbow conditions simultaneously which may complicate management and makes comparison of outcomes between cases difficult. Additionally, cats afflicted by elbow disease are often older and affected by concomitant systemic health problems, which may influence medication choices and dosages. [...]