Evaluation of the triple tibial osteotomy. A new technique for the management of the canine cruciate-deficient stifle.

The triple tibial osteotomy (TTO) is a technique which combines the features of tibial tuberosity advancement and wedge osteotomy for the treatment of complete and partial cruciate ligament injuries in dogs. In this paper, the technique is described and the results of a prospective study of 64 consecutive cases are presented. TTO provided a satisfactory clinical outcome in a very high percentage of cases. The technique is relatively easy to learn and has a low post-operative complication rate.

Gracilis or semitendinosus myopathy in 18 dogs.

The clinical findings in 18 dogs with gracilis (n = 17) or semitendinosus (n = 1) myopathy are described. Each dog had a similar hind-limb gait abnormality characterized by a shortened stride with a rapid, elastic medial rotation of the paw, internal rotation of the hock and external rotation of the calcaneus [corrected] and internal rotation of the stifle during the mid-to-late swing phase of the stride. Medical management prior to or in lieu of surgery was attempted (n = 8) with no apparent response. Fifteen dogs had one or multiple surgical procedures. Although transection, partial excision, or complete resection of the affected muscle resulted in resolution of lameness following surgery, lameness recurred six weeks to five months (mean, 2.5 months; median, two months) following surgery. Adjunctive medical treatment did not prevent recurrence. Variable replacement of the affected muscle with fibrous connective tissue (predominantly along the caudolateral border of the muscle) was evident grossly, and replacement of myofibers with fibrous connective tissue was confirmed histologically. A definitive etiology could not be established.

Osteochondrosis of the elbow: a review of the pathogenesis and a new approach to treatment.

To test the hypothesis that joint incongruity contributes to the pathogenesis of elbow osteochondrosis, the left and right radius and ulna of 20 young large breed dogs were measured to determine any variation in length and to observe any incongruity of the elbow joint. Both lame and normal dogs were included in the study. Nine of the 20 dogs had marked disparity in radial and ulnar lengths yet only one had obvious elbow joint incongruity. The use of a sliding osteotomy for the treatment of fragmented coronoid process and a lengthening osteotomy for the treatment of an ununited anconeal process is also discussed. All four dogs treated with a sliding osteotomy showed a marked clinical improvement, and two of the three dogs treated with a lengthening osteotomy showed radiographic fusion of the anconeal process.

Disseminated opportunistic fungal disease in dogs: 10 cases (1982-1990).

Medical records of 10 dogs in which fungal infection was diagnosed between 1982 and 1990 were reviewed. In each dog, infection was determined to be caused by a single species of fungus, either Aspergillus terreus, Penicillium sp, Paecilomyces sp, Chrysosporium sp, or Pseudallescheria boydii. Nine dogs were German Shepherd Dogs; 1 was a German Shepherd Dog cross, and 9 were females. The most common clinical signs were signs of neck or back pain (9 dogs), weight loss (7 dogs), anorexia (6 dogs), pyrexia (6 dogs), paresis (3 dogs), and paralysis (3 dogs). All 10 dogs had evidence of multiple sites of diskospondylitis. Urine sediment was examined in 6 dogs, and all 6 had fungal hyphae. Urine samples from these dogs produced a medium to heavy pure growth of fungi when placed on Sabaraud's medium. Predisposing causes were not identified in any of the dogs. Four dogs were euthanatized immediately after diagnosis because of paralysis or paresis. The other 6 dogs were treated, and 4 of the 6 received itraconazole. One dog was euthanatized for an unrelated problem after 21 months of treatment; 1 dog was still alive after 4 years of continuous treatment with itraconazole. The other 4 dogs were euthanatized because of eventual paralysis or paresis. Our results suggest that German Shepherd Dogs are predisposed to infection with opportunistic fungi, possibly because of a specific inability to mount an effective response. This predisposition needs to be further studied.

Deformity of the proximal tibia in dogs.

A condition has been recognised in five young dogs in which the proximal tibia exhibited cranial bowing. This altered conformation, sometimes accompanied by bow legs (genu varum), occurs bilaterally, but to differing degrees. The deformity apparently altered the biomechanics of the stifle joint so that degenerative joint disease and rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament followed in four of the five dogs. The aetiology is unknown, but the most likely cause appears to be retardation of growth in the caudal aspect of the proximal tibial physis. Treatment involving surgical techniques to correct the joint instability was only moderately successful.

Osteochondritis dissecans in the dog.

The diagnosis, aetiology, pathogenesis and treatment of osteochondritis dissecans in the shoulder, elbow, stifle and hock joints of the dog is reviewed. A technique of surgically exploring the shoulder joint with minimal exposure is described. Recommendations for preventing the development of osteochondritis dissecans are made.

Spinal cord compression caused by a metastatic lesion from an aortic body tumour.

An aortic body tumour in a 7-year-old wire-haired fox terrier with hind limb ataxia is described. A metastatic lesion in the dorsal arch of the eighth thoracic vertebra caused compression of the spinal cord. Radiographic techniques are discussed that enabled the position and extent of the primary tumour and its metastasis to be defined and allowed a provisional diagnosis of chemodectoma.

Surgical remodelling of the femoral trochlea: an experimental study.

Surgical deepening of the groove in the femoral trochlea is a technique commonly employed in the correction of patellar dislocation in dogs. In order to discover how this deep articular defect repairs the operation was studied experimentally in young goats. Observations were made on the appearance of the trochlea and the histologic changes that had taken place after approximately six, 12, and 40 weeks. The abraded groove became filled with fibrocartilage with a relatively smooth surface and it articulated freely with the patella. The majority of the replacement tissues arose by differentiation of the granulation tissue which initially filled the groove, but there appeared to have been some contribution made by the hyaline cartilage at the margins of the groove.

Hemivertebra in the dog: clinical and pathological observations.

The clinical and radiographic findings associated with the presence of hemivertebra ("wedge-shaped"vertebra) in small and brachycephalic breeds of dogs are reported together with the results of post mortem examination in the availabel cases. The condition is characterised clinically by progressive hind-leg weakness, spinal pain, abnormalities of the nervous system and evidence of muscle atrophy or other abnormalities of conformation. Confirmation of the clinical diagnosis is by radiography. It is suggested that the condition is congenital in origin. Breed incidences are reported. The occurrence of the disorder in certain families of dogs suggests also that it may be hereditary. Other congenital abnormalities are seen in some dogs affected by hemivertebrae.