Multi‐centre retrospective study of long‐term outcomes following traumatic elbow luxation in 37 dogs

Abstract

OBJECTIVES Limited guidelines exist regarding the optimal treatment of traumatic canine elbow luxation, and there is a lack of information on long‐term functional outcome. Here we report reduction and stabilisation techniques for a series of traumatic elbow luxations and describe clinical outcome plus long‐term questionnaire‐based follow‐up. METHODS Retrospective review of canine traumatic elbow luxations (2006 to 2013) treated at five referral centres. Data recorded included signalment, luxation aetiology, time to reduction, reduction technique, surgical procedure, post‐reduction care and complications. Questionnaire follow‐up was attempted for all cases with owners completing the Canine Brief Pain Inventory. RESULTS Thirty‐seven dogs were included. The most frequent cause of luxation was road traffic accident (n=22). Twenty cases were treated surgically. Seven dogs suffered major postoperative complications: reluxation (n=6), infection requiring implant removal (n=1). Four of the six reluxations occurred in dogs that had other orthopaedic injuries. Twenty‐two owners completed the Canine Brief Pain Inventory questionnaire: there were 13 excellent, 6 very good, 1 good and 2 fair outcomes. Outcome was not associated with the reduction technique. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Initial closed reduction, followed by surgical stabilisation if unsuccessful, results in good‐to‐excellent outcomes in the majority of traumatic canine elbow luxations. Reluxation was the most common major complication and there was a higher incidence of reluxation in patients with multiple orthopaedic injuries.

Lateral radioulnar subluxation in three cattle: clinical findings, treatment, and outcome

“…The technique used for reduction in this case series was a modified version of published protocols in which maximum flexion of the elbow and carpus accompanied by manual medial rotation of the limb function primarily to reposition the anconeal process into the olecranon fossa. According to our experience, extension of the limb and strong traction described by other authors was not required for reduction.…”

Incomplete ossificatie van de humeruscondylen (IOHC) bij de hond

“…In de praktijk komen elleboogproblemen vaak voor, meestal bij opgroeiende honden van grote en reuzenrassen (Cook, 2001;Scott en Witte, 2011). Er zijn verscheidene aandoeningen die kreupelheid in de elleboog kunnen veroorzaken, waaronder een reeks traumatische letsels, zoals fracturen en luxaties (McKee et al, 2005;Sajik et al, 2016), degeneratieve letsels, zoals flexor enthesiopathie (De Bakker et al, 2013), "medial compartment syndrome" (Coppieters et al, 2015), artrose en een reeks congenitale en ontwikkelingsstoornissen, zoals elleboogdysplasie. Elleboogdysplasie is de verzamelnaam voor vier aandoeningen: osteochondrose van de mediale humeruscondyl, losse processus anconeus (LPA), elleboogincongruentie en losse processus coronoïdeus (LPC).…”

In Dogs With Traumatic Elbow Luxation, Does Treatment Using Closed Reduction and Conservative Management Have a Better Prognosis Than Those Treated With Open Reduction and Surgery?

“…That being said, it is important to consider that the poorer outcome in surgically-managed cases could reflect the severity or chronicity of the injury rather than the treatment method itself, or indeed could reflect a combination of the two. When considering all the studies listed above, there appears to be a step-by-step approach to management of traumatic canine elbow luxation, outlined most completely by Sajik et al (2016). Closed reduction should be attempted in all cases as it seems that early, successful closed reduction provides the best long-term prognosis.…”