Arthroscopic findings in 100 dogs with elbow lameness

Abstract

Elbow arthroscopy was performed in 100 dogs with foreleg lameness localised to the elbow joint, bilaterally in 48 of them, making a total of 148 joints examined. Lesions in the area of the medial coronoid process varied from cartilage fissures in 13 to fragmentation in 91, chondromalacia-like lesions in 27. This last lesion has not been reported previously in the veterinary literature. Kissing lesions on the medial side of the humeral condyle were present in 83 joints, whereas lesions of osteochondritis dissecans were found in only three. All these lesions were associated with varying signs of synovitis and arthrosis. Arthroscopic signs of arthrosis and/or synovitis without associated medical coronoid lesions were found in 14 elbow joints.

Subtotal Coronoid Ostectomy for Treatment of Medial Coronoid Disease in 263 Dogs

“…In a single elbow, fissuring of the proximal aspect of the ulna occurred during ostectomy with an osteotome, and although this has not occurred again, it should be considered as a potential hazard with this surgical technique. Infection rate (7.0%) was higher than might be anticipated for diagnostic elbow arthroscopy alone (reported as 0% 25 ), although complication rates specific to arthroscopic treatment of coronoid disease have not been published. Whereas the high rate of infection may partially be artifactual because it included dogs with positive bacterial culture of synovial fluid or tissue and also dogs with effusion and lameness postoperatively that responded to antibiotic therapy in the absence of positive bacterial culture.…”

Occurrence of Radiologically Detectable “Kissing” Lesion in Dog Elbows in Dependence on the Type of Fragmentation of the Processus Coronoideus Medialis and on Sex

“…It may be assumed that the malatic cranial apex of PCM mechanically irritates the medial articular surface of the humeral condyle to a lesser extent than an ossified free fragment of the cranial apex of PCM. Van Ryssen and Van Bree (1997) found "kissing" lesions in a group of 131 arthroscopically treated elbows with FCP in 66.1% cases. In 48.88% cases the "kissing" lesion was observed in connection with fragmented FCP, in 6.88% in connection with fissured PCM, and in 6.1% in connection with chondromalacia of PCM.…”

Elbow dysplasia and lesions of the medial coronoid process: correlation between tomographic and arthroscopic findings in thirty cases

“…A rigid endoscope with 2.4 or 2.7 mm diameter, 30°lens angle and a 3.2 or 4 mm diameter cannula respectively, were used for the arthroscopic examination. A medial approach was used, and the alterations were classified according to a modification of a system proposed by Van Ryssen and Van Bree (1997) and Schultz et al (2004). Where possible the arthroscopic examination was performed immediately at the end of the CT investigation to optimize the length of the study in an single anestesiologic session.…”

“…The diagnostic procedure consists, besides the clinical examination, of a standardized radiographic examination according to the indications furnished by the International Elbow Working Group (IEWG), that however gives only information on the presence or lack of secondary osteoarthrosic damage (Van Bree and Van Ryssen 1995;Hornof et al 2000;Blond et al 2005). For this reason, in the last decade the use of second level imaging techniques as CT and arthroscopy, which has the undeniable advantage to offer both diagnostic and therapeutic options, has increased (Van Bree and Van Ryssen 1995;Bardet 1997;Van Ryssen and Van Bree 1997;Hornof et al 2000;Reichele et al 2000;De Rycke et al 2002;Rovesti 2002;Schultz et al 2004;Blond et al 2005;Martini 2006). The present works is to be considered as a retrospective investigation performed on 30 articulations affected by elbow dysplasia to find a possible correlation between CT and arthroscopic findings of different nature and degree, contextually analyzing the possibilities and limits of each technique.…”