Orthopedic and ultrasonographic examination findings in 128 shoulders of 64 ultra‐endurance Alaskan sled dogs

Pfeil, Dirsko J F von; Davis, Michael S.; Liska, William D.; George, Clinton; Secrest, Scott

doi:10.1111/vsu.13621

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Over 80% of the dogs ultrasounded had an abnormal finding. No correlation was found between clinical signs and abnormal ultrasound findings ( 9 ). In addition, there was a wide variety of shoulder abduction angles even in normal joints and fluid around the biceps tendon could not be related to pain in the shoulder.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Evaluating injuries and illnesses that occurred during the Yukon Quest International sled dog race, 2018–2020

Hattendorf,

Davis,

Hansen

2024

Front. Vet. Sci.

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IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to evaluate medical record data from the 2018–2020 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog race to examine injury patterns and risk factors for dogs competing in multi-day ultra-endurance events. Specifically, we summarized injuries and illnesses that resulted in canine athletes being removed (“dropped”) from competition, and in orthopedic injuries diagnosed in both dropped and finished dogs.MethodsThe records of 989 dogs that started the race were examined, but only records from dogs in teams that went on to finish the race were included, for a total of 711 records.Results and discussionThree hundred and sixty five dogs (51.3%) were noted to have at least one abnormal finding in their veterinary medical record during the race. Orthopedic injuries were most common, and 291 injuries were ultimately diagnosed in 234 dogs (32.9%). Ultimately, 206 dogs (29%) were dropped from competition, for any reason. The most common reasons for dropping dogs were orthopedic injuries (156 dogs; 188 injuries), gastrointestinal illness (22 dogs), and cardiorespiratory disease (7 dogs). Most orthopedic injuries in dropped dogs occurred in the thoracic limb (n = 121 dogs; 151 injuries). Of those, injuries to the shoulder were most common (n = 77), followed by injuries to the carpus (n = 59), and injury to the pelvic limb (n = 32). Carpal injuries were the most prevalent injury diagnosed in dogs that went on to finish the race (71 of 85 injuries). Carpal injuries were the most prevalent injuries overall in 2018 (51%) and 2019 (52%). In 2020, shoulder injuries were most prevalent (27%), suggesting that trail conditions may have differed between years. The majority of dogs with an orthopedic injury ultimately were removed from competition (156 of 234, or 66.6%), but the likelihood of finishing the race with an injury depended on the type of injury sustained; 71 of 130 dogs (54.6%) with a carpal injury went on to finish the race, whereas only 9 of 86 dogs with a shoulder injury (10.5%) went on to finish. The results of this study can assist mushers and veterinarians in preparing for races, and in decision making during endurance sled dog races.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Evaluating injuries and illnesses that occurred during the Yukon Quest International sled dog race, 2018–2020

Hattendorf,

Davis,

Hansen

2024

Front. Vet. Sci.

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“…Of these, 13 were excluded: 6 due to evidence of high impact trauma (1P, 5NP), 4 due to glenohumeral dysplasia (1P, 3NP), and 3 due to potentially contributing comorbidities (3NP), leaving 61 dogs with presumed MSI, diagnosed in clinical records by a combination of abduction angle assessment, radiographs, and arthroscopic assessment. Given the limitation of diagnosis of grade 1–3 MSI based on palpation and radiographic assessment alone, 10 11 12 13 inclusion criteria required confirmation via arthroscopic examination for all grade 1–3 cases ( n = 11; 2P, 9NP) and/or radiographic evidence of medial luxation of the humeral head for grade 4 MSI ( n = 37; arthroscopic diagnosis in 18 = 7P, 11NP; radiographic diagnosis in 19 = 8P, 11NP). Lack of confirmation of diagnosis by these methods excluded a further 13 dogs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The accepted “normal abduction angle” has been shown to be approximately 30 degrees 9 and, although past studies suggested that abduction angles could be used to diagnose MSI, it has since been shown that significant variation occurs between observers measuring abduction angles, that abduction angles do not closely correlate to arthroscopic pathology, and that abduction angles of up to 75 degrees may be observed in normal joints. 10 11 12 13 Hence a diagnosis of MSI cannot be based upon abduction angle measurement alone. In cases of instability/subluxation (MSI grade 1–3), arthroscopy is required to confirm the diagnosis; luxation (MSI grade 4) can be diagnosed from radiographs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medial Shoulder Instability: Prevalence and Treatment Outcomes in 17 Poodles and 31 Dogs of Other Breeds

Woolley,

Collyer,

Finch

et al. 2023

VCOT Open

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Objective The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to investigate whether poodles were overrepresented in a cohort of dogs with medial shoulder instability (MSI), and to compare the incidence of spontaneous (nontraumatic) MSI and treatment outcome in poodles and non-poodle dogs. Study Design Medical records (2009–2019) of dogs with MSI from five surgical referral centers were reviewed. Results Forty-eight dogs with confirmed MSI were enrolled; 17 (35%) of which were poodles and 31 (65%) were of other breeds (including 11 [23%] poodle crossbreeds). Poodles were more than 10 times overrepresented in the MSI populations (p < 0.0001) compared with other breeds. MSI occurred spontaneously in 82% of poodles and 52% of non-poodles; the odds of presenting with spontaneous MSI for poodles were four times greater than that for non-poodle breeds. There were no differences in terms of treatments and outcomes. Conclusion Poodles were significantly overrepresented in the cohort of dogs presenting with MSI and were more likely to have spontaneous rather than traumatic MSI.

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“…This diagnostic technique has recently been proven to be not as reliable and repeatable as initially suggested. 11,12 In our study, the surgeon assessed the tension to apply on the sutures to reduce the instability. Further studies correlating the reduction of the abduction angle with the tension applied on the sutures would be interesting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Measurement of maximum abduction angle of the shoulder joint has been described to be an easily feasible diagnostic tool to assess medial shoulder laxity. 9 However, some recent studies showed that maximum shoulder abduction angles varied greatly and could reach up to 75 degrees un normal joints, questioning the reliability 11,12 and specificity 13 of this test.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treatment of Medial Shoulder Joint Instability by Stabilization with an Arthroscopically Guided Prosthetic Ligament: A Cadaveric Feasibility Study in Dogs

Llido

Livet

Carozzo

et al. 2022

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol

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Objective The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficiency of an arthroscopically guided ligamentoplasty of the medial glenohumeral ligament to treat medial shoulder joint instability. Study Design Six Beagle cadavers were used (12 limbs). Both arms of the medial glenohumeral ligament were severed using arthroscopic guidance. Arthroscopically guided reconstruction of the ligament was performed. Threaded sutures were fixed with a bone anchor on the medial aspect of the glenoidal cavity of the scapula, passed through a humeral tunnel and finally tensioned with a suture button on lateral aspect of the humerus. Shoulder abduction angles were measured before and after the section of the medial glenohumeral ligament, and following the surgery. Two orthogonal radiographic projections and dissections were performed after each procedure to grade the placement of the implants. Results Surgical repairs were achieved in 10 out of 12 limbs. The abduction angles after repair with ligamentoplasty were not significantly different from the abduction angles measured before the section of the medial glenohumeral ligament. Conclusion Arthroscopically guided ligamentoplasty with a scapular bone anchor and a humeral drilling tunnel is feasible in cadavers, and efficient to restore acutely shoulder abduction angle in a minimally invasive manner. Further clinical studies are required to assess in vivo results.

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Orthopedic and ultrasonographic examination findings in 128 shoulders of 64 ultra‐endurance Alaskan sled dogs

Abstract: Objective: To determine the location and periarticular shoulder-muscleabnormalities detected via orthopedic examinations and ultrasonography in ultra-endurance Alaskan sled-dogs, returned from an ultra-endurance sleddog-race prior to finishing it.

Cited by 5 publications

References 37 publications

Evaluating injuries and illnesses that occurred during the Yukon Quest International sled dog race, 2018–2020

Evaluating injuries and illnesses that occurred during the Yukon Quest International sled dog race, 2018–2020

Medial Shoulder Instability: Prevalence and Treatment Outcomes in 17 Poodles and 31 Dogs of Other Breeds

Treatment of Medial Shoulder Joint Instability by Stabilization with an Arthroscopically Guided Prosthetic Ligament: A Cadaveric Feasibility Study in Dogs

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