In Vitro Validation of a Technique for Assessment of Canine and Feline Elbow Joint Collateral Ligament Integrity and Description of a New Method for Collateral Ligament Prosthetic Replacement

Abstract

Clinical examination findings, specifically Campbell's test, can be used to determine elbow CL integrity in dogs and cats. The contralateral elbow should be used as a control, because of interanimal variability in angles of rotation.

Surgical management of medial humeral epicondylitis, cubital synovial osteochondromatosis and humeroradial subluxation in a cat

“…This degree of rotation was significantly increased when compared with normal ranges of pronation previously reported in cats, 5 and when compared with that noted preoperatively in this cat. The instability was more severe with the elbow joint held in flexion.…”

“…The ulnar parts of the collateral ligaments are taut throughout the range of motion, whereas the radial parts are lax in flexion, allowing an increased range of motion of the radial head. Farrell et al demonstrated the importance of the collateral ligaments for elbow joint stability in cats, 5 showing that compromise of the medial collateral ligament resulted in increased pronation, whereas compromise of the lateral collateral ligament resulted in increased supination. Luxation of the elbow joint was not possible in cats unless both collateral ligaments were impaired.…”

“…The closure was modified removing some of the redundant joint capsule and imbricating the closure; while this improved the instability noted, the range of motion in pronation remained excessive. As has been reported by Farrell et al, a 2.0 mm drill bit was used to drill three bone tunnels: 5,6 one humeral transcondylar, one transradial and one transulnar. A double loop of four metric Prolene suture was placed through the humeral tunnel from lateral to medial and then through the radial tunnel from medial to lateral.…”

TRAUMATIC ELBOW LUXATION IN A FREE-RANGING HEDGEHOG (ERINACEUS EUROPAEUS): SURGICAL MANAGEMENT USING CIRCUMFERENTIAL SUTURE PROSTHESES

“…8 A circumferential suture prosthesis technique was used for the surgical management of elbow luxation. 3,4 This technique consists of drilling three bone tunnels from lateral to medial across 1) the humeral epicondyles, 2) the radial head, and 3) the ulnar troachlea at the level of the ulnar trochlear notch. A single circumferential suture is passed in the humeroradial and in humeroulnar bone tunnels, respectively, as replacement for the ligaments.…”

“…4 This procedure is effective in preventing elbow reluxation in vitro with excellent clinical results. 3,4 Although in the original technique nonabsorbable sutures were used, 3,4 in this case absorbable materials were employed because of the lack of long-term follow-up postoperatively due to the animal's release. The treatment performed in an acute phase and postoperatively included physical therapy under general anesthesia that contributed to the lack of articular fibrosis and the good clinical result obtained.…”