Unusual presentation of avulsion of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle in a dog

Abstract

A five-and-a-half-year-old, male neutered golden retriever was presented with sudden onset, plantigrade stance of the left pelvic limb one month after a traumatic incident. A diagnosis of avulsion of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle was made based on clinical signs and radiographic assessment. Initial wire reduction and fixation were unsuccessful. However, reduction and fixation with monofilament leader line augmented with a trans-hock external fixator resulted in a successful outcome. The dog had a normal gait 18 months after revision surgery.

Mri Features of Gastrocnemius Musculotendinopathy in Herding Dogs

“…Affected dogs have high grade lameness, sometimes with a plantigrade stance. Distal displacement of the corresponding sesamoid bone of the gastrocnemius head is usually apparent in radiographs of affected animals 3–8 . We observed injury of the gastrocnemius muscle in a group of herding dogs with pelvic limb lameness without history of trauma.…”

“…Injuries of the gastrocnemius muscle origin in dogs include total or partial avulsion of the lateral or medial head with or without known prior trauma 3–9 . Affected dogs have high grade lameness, sometimes with a plantigrade stance.…”

Clinical, radiographic, and magnetic resonance imaging findings of gastrocnemius musculotendinopathy in various dog breeds

“…Another differential diagnosis for gastrocnemius musculotendinopathy is avulsion of the lateral, medial, or both heads of the gastrocnemius muscle (9,14,15). In this case, dogs show severe lameness and often a plantigrade stance, and swelling can also be noted (9,15).…”

Muskulotendinopathie des Musculus gastrocnemius bei einem Labrador Retriever

“…Die Muskulotendinopathie des Musculus (M.) gastrocnemius stellt eine Erkrankung der Muskel-Sehnen-Einheit dar, die mit chronischer Hintergliedmaßenlahmheit und Schmerzhaftigkeit im Bereich des Muskelursprungs einhergeht (18). Verletzungen, die den Ursprung des M. gastrocnemius betreffen, sind Avulsionen der Sehnen vom Femur (11,15,19). Beim Hund treten vollständige oder partielle Avulsionen selten auf.…”