Incomplete humeral condylar fracture was diagnosed by means of radiology, CT, scintigraphy, arthroscopy and bone biopsy in two English Pointer dogs. In both cases an acute thoracic limb lameness, unrelated to a known episode of major trauma, was observed. Incomplete humeral condylar fracture, mainly described in the Spaniel breeds, has been recently diagnosed in Labrador retrievers, Rottweiler, German Wachtel and other breeds. The pathogenesis of the condition is still unknown, but incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle and mechanical stress, alone or associated, have to be considered. However, our clinical and histopathological data lead us to believe that in Pointers, high performance dogs, the mechanical stress can assume a critical ethiopathogenetic role.

There are only a few studies which could support conclusions concerning the strength of the muscles surrounding the hip joint and especially concerning the strength relationships following implantation of endoprostheses. The aim of this study was to examine the post-operative course of strength deficits in this musculature compared to clinical parameters. Fifty-eight patients between 30 and 67 years of age, in whom individual total hip prostheses were implanted, were clinically examined prior, 9 weeks and 6 months after surgery. Moreover, the maximum isometric strengths of abductors, flexors, and rotator muscles as well as maximum isokinetic strengths of the extensors and flexor musculature at 60 degrees/s and 120 degrees/s were measured. The flexor and extensor musculature already showed a clear increase in maximum strength after 9 weeks and 6 months. By contrast, the isometric strengths of the rotators increased only slightly, the abductor strength decreased after 9 weeks to below the preoperative baseline level and attained this level again only after 6 months. The clinical parameters Trendelenburg sign, limping, and walking capacity were clearly improved after 6 months, but no correlation to the abductor strength could be demonstrated. It is concluded that limp-free gait can be attained even without maximum strength increase in the abductors, which are important for fluid gait, at least for short distances. The importance of regular training of the rotator and abductor musculature in coxarthrosis is emphasized to delay limitation of movement and decreased strength in the sense of a capsule pattern.

Chromatophore motoneurones in Lolliguncula brevis are known to originate in the suboesophageal lobes of the brain and to project directly to the mantle and fin through bilateral stellate ganglia and fin nerves. The chromatophore motor fields of stellar and fin nerves were investigated by stimulation of the cut end of individual nerves in a semi-intact preparation. This elicited expansion of yellow and brown chromatophores in distinct motor fields. Brown chromatophores extended over the entire mantle, whereas yellow chromatophores were limited to the dorsal and lateral mantle areas. Combined nerve stimulation and lesions demonstrated substantial overlap between adjacent chromatophore motor fields and innervation of individual chromatophores by different stellar nerves.

SummaryThe authors report 13 dogs with radiocarpal bone fracture. The lesion was bilateral in six cases and unilateral in seven. Clinical and radiographic examination of both the carpal joints was performed. One or two fracture lines, sagittal oblique and dorsal, of the radial carpal bone were detected. CT examination of two radial carpal bones helped in a better visualization of the fracture lines. A dorsal bone fragment of a fractured radial carpal bone was removed in one dog. Histopathology revealed the presence of fibro-connective tissue on the fracture surface of the bone fragment. The fibro-connective tissue did not seem to be the sequel to acute or chronic diseases, nor to any pathological healing process. The cancellous bone of the fragment was normal as was the bulk of the articular cartilage examined. A CT guided biopsy, including the sagittal oblique fracture surface of the radial carpal bone, was also performed. The specimens revealed the presence of immature cancellous bone with diffuse immature cartilage areas. The radial carpal bone has three separate centres of ossification: the primitive radial carpal bone, the central and intermediate carpal bone. The fusion of these centres occurs at 3-4 months of age. Histopathological findings suggest a possible “incomplete fusion” of the centres of ossification rather than a true fracture of the radial carpal bone or alternatively a “fatigue fracture”. A similar condition, involving the distal part of the humerus, was originally reported in several Cocker Spaniel dogs, and more recently in Rottweilers and Labrador Retrievers.

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