Humeral Condylar Fractures in French Bulldogs-Inciting Cause and Factors Influencing Complications of Internal Fixation in 136 Dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To report the inciting cause and configuration of humeral condylar fractures in French Bulldogs, and to identify risk factors for complications associated with their surgical stabilization, as well as their occurrence. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective multicenter clinical cohort study. ANIMALS: French bulldogs (n = 136) with humeral condylar fracture. METHODS: Records from eight United Kingdom referral centers were reviewed for French bulldogs that underwent surgery for humeral condylar fracture between January 2017 and January 2021. RESULTS: Lateral fractures of the humeral condyle represented two-thirds of condylar fractures in this study (95 elbows; 69.8%); medial fractures of the humeral condyle and intracondylar Y or T fractures affected 22 (16.2%) and 19 (14%), respectively. A fall was the inciting cause for 60 elbows (45.6%), with stairs implicated in 27 (20.45%) elbows. Skeletal immaturity was significantly correlated with fracture. Complications affected 30 out of 132 dogs (136 elbows) (22%), of which 10 (33%) were major, and 20 (66%) were minor. Fixation method did not significantly impact complication rate for medial or lateral fractures of the humeral condyle (p = 0.87). Comminution increased the risk of complication for all humeral condylar fracture types (p = 0.02). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Fixation method was not found to significantly impact the complication rate of surgically managed fractures of the humeral condyle in French bulldogs. Stair use, falling from low heights, and skeletal immaturity were common inciting reasons for humeral condylar fractures.

Lateral condylar fracture secondary to humeral intracondylar fissure in a cat.

OBJECTIVE: To report the progression of a humeral intracondylar fissure (HIF) into a lateral humeral condylar fracture and successful treatment in a cat. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMALS: One 8-year-old, male, neutered, Maine coon crossbreed cat. METHODS: A lateral humeral condylar fracture occurred in a cat with no history of trauma. A partial HIF was identified by computed tomography of the contralateral elbow, progressing to fracture 279 days later. Both fractures were repaired surgically at the time of their diagnoses. RESULTS: Both lateral humeral condylar fractures were repaired with a transcondylar lag screw and caudolaterally applied locking plate. These repairs led to bone union and full return to function of surgically treated limbs. Eight hundred thirty-six days after initial presentation, a nontraumatic transverse patella fracture was diagnosed, which combined with a clinical history of extraction of retained deciduous canines supports a diagnosis of patellar fracture and dental anomaly syndrome (PADS). CONCLUSION: Evidence of progression of HIF to fracture in a cat with PADS has implications for management of elbow-related lameness in this species. In this report, we seek to alert practitioners to the potential for HIF to be seen in cats and that cats presenting for humeral condylar fracture should undergo further assessment for patella and other fractures as well as dental anomalies. Key features of PADS may not be present at the time of initial assessment.

Conformation of the proximal tibia and cranial cruciate ligament disease in small breed dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the conformation of the proximal tibia in small breed dogs with and without cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD) and to identify morphologic abnormalities that may predispose to development of CCLD. METHODS: Mediolateral radiographs of the entire tibia of dogs <15 kg with surgically confirmed CCLD were retrospectively evaluated. Proximal tibial width (PTW), tibial plateau length (TPL), tibial plateau angle as described by Slocum and Slocum (sTPA), proximal tibial tuberosity angle (PTTA), tibial plateau angle as described by Inauen and colleagues (nTPA), and diaphyseal tibial width (DTW) were measured. The same variables were obtained from mediolateral radiographs of the entire tibia of dogs <15 kg without CCLD. In addition, a quotient nTPA/PTW, relative tibial tuberosity width (rTTW), and relative body weight (rBW) were calculated for each dog. Independent two-sample t-test (p = 0.05) was used to compare mean ± SD of all measured variables between the two groups. RESULTS: Gender, age, and weight mean ± SD were not significantly different between the two groups of dogs (p <0.05). Dogs with CCLD had significantly greater sTPA (p = 0.015) and rBW (p = 0.016). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In dogs of small breeds, a combination of an excessively steep tibial plateau and an increased relative body weight may predispose to early CCLD development. The slope of the tibial plateau was found to be caused by an abnormal caudal angulation of the proximal tibia, a phenomenon previously associated with CCLD development in small breed dogs in individual cases.