A Prevalence Study of Canine Humeral Condylar Fractures Over a Ten-Year Period at an Academic Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, breed predisposition and fracture conformation of humeral condylar fractures (HCF) over a 10-year period. Results were compared with published studies emanating from the United Kingdom exploring effect of breed on HCF. Methods Data for all canine admissions to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Kansas State University were extracted for the period January 2010 to October 2020. Humeral fractures were recorded and further subclassified as medial, lateral and ‘T’/‘Y’ condylar fractures. The associations between HCF and subtypes with breed were assessed using univariate logistic regression with a comparison group. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of breed while accounting for dog age, sex and neuter status. Results Of the 44,952 canine patients seen during the study period, period prevalence (95% confidence interval [CI] for HCF was 0.26% [0.22, 0.31]). After adjustment for age and neuter status, French Bulldogs were 49 times more likely to be diagnosed with a HCF compared with the comparison breed group (odds ratio [OR], 49.0; 95% CI, 26.9–89.3). After adjustment for age and neuter status, Cocker Spaniels (OR, 42.8; 95% CI, 16.8–108.6), Boston Terriers (OR, 22.9; 95% CI, 11.0–47.9) and Brittany Spaniels (OR, 21.5; 95% CI, 7.3–63.1) had the next highest increase in HCF compared with the comparison group. Conclusion Based on a study population from the United States, French Bulldogs were 49 times more likely to be diagnosed with a HCF compared with the comparison breed group.

Humeral intracondylar fissures and intracondylar sclerosis are common CT findings in the limb contralateral to a humeral condylar fracture in French bulldogs and spaniel breeds

“…The majority (89%) of dogs presenting with HCF over 5 years at this single center were Springer spaniels, Cocker spaniels, and FBD, reaffirming recent reports of breed predisposition for FBD and spaniels for HCF 3,4,8 . We accepted the hypothesis that FBD presents with HCF at a younger age than spaniels, with 89% of FBD in the study presenting before the age of 12 months compared with only 13% of spaniels.…”

“…HIF has been suggested as a possible cause of HCF in a recent case series of FBD, with an appearance similar to that of spaniel breeds, 18 and this is supported by a fissure being identified in the contralateral limb of 44% of FBD in this study. Other studies have hypothesized that altered endochondral ossification in the chondrodystrophic FBD may, in turn, contribute to the development of a HIF, or incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle, but the retrospective nature of many studies has limited assessment of the contralateral limb 8 …”

“…Certain breeds are recognized to be at an increased risk of HCF, most notably spaniel breeds such as the English Springer spaniel and the Cocker spaniel 2,7 . More recently the French bulldog (FBD) has been reported as having an increased risk of HCF, but it is currently unknown whether there may be underlying elbow pathology that predisposes this breed to HCF 3,4,8 …”

“…Recent studies have reported that the FBD breed is at a greatly increased risk of HCF, with spaniel breeds also overrepresented, and fractures generally occurring during normal activity 3,4,8 . Additionally, the perception of the authors was that HCF in FBD can be particularly challenging to repair, due to a more oblique intracondylar fracture line than is typically encountered in other breeds, making reduction of the fragments challenging.…”

“…an increased risk of HCF, but it is currently unknown whether there may be underlying elbow pathology that predisposes this breed to HCF. 3,4,8 Spaniels (including the English springer spaniel, American cocker spaniel, and English cocker spaniel) have been recognized as having an increased risk of HCF due to an increased prevalence of humeral intracondylar fissures (HIF) in these breeds, previously described as incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle (IOHC). 9,10 Humeral intracondylar fissures can cause lameness in the affected limb or can be an incidental finding.…”