Elbow Dysplasia in the Dog Investigation and Treatment

What is elbow dysplasia?
The international elbow working group (iEWG) agreed that ‘elbow arthrosis caused by fragmented coronoid process (fCp), osteochondrosis (oCD) and ununited anconeal process (uap), articular cartilage anomaly and / or joint incongruity is the manifestation of inherited canine elbow dysplasia’.

Pathogenesis
Elbow dysplasia is hereditary and there are several theories as to why it develops (1). these include asynchronous growth between the radius and ulna or an ulna notch that is too small. this can result in humeroulnar subluxation and proximal pressure on the anconeal process or humeroradial subluxation and distal pressure on the medial coro- noid process with resultant fragmentation.

Clinical details
Large active breeds, males or females, are usually affected from 5-7 months of age. the onset of lameness is often insidious and chronic. Severity of lameness is variable but usually mild and bilateral. there may be elbow effusions. palpation is generally non- painful but manipulation through a full range of motion (roM) causes discomfort at extremes. flexion of the elbow with supination of the antebrachium to tense the medial collateral ligament may be a useful manipulation to perform in mild cases. [...]