Canine Elbow Dysplasia: Medial Compartment Disease and Osteoarthritis.

Erosion of the articular cartilage of the medial compartment of the elbow (the humeroulnar articulation) secondary to incongruency associated with elbow dysplasia or traumatic injury has been termed, medial compartment disease. When nonsurgical strategies to manage osteoarthritis (OA) fail, surgical solutions may be warranted. Surgical strategies reduce pain through off-loading of the medial compartment by load-shifting osteotomies of the humerus or ulna. Other strategies involve replacement of portions or all of the articular surface of the medial compartment. With global elbow joint OA (medial and lateral compartment), a total elbow replacement may be required.

Clinical outcomes associated with the initial use of the Canine Unicompartmental Elbow (CUE) Arthroplasty System(®).

We evaluated mid- to long-term outcomes with respect to function and complications in dogs undergoing canine unicompartmental elbow (CUE) arthroplasty for treatment of medial compartment disease of the elbow. This prospective multicenter case series is the first group of clinical cases to receive CUE arthroplasty. Cases (each elbow that underwent CUE performed by a participating surgeon) were enrolled into an electronic database and prospectively followed to determine and record all associated complications, as well as functional outcomes. There were 103 cases from 18 surgeons. Final follow-up time ranged from 6 to 47 mo with a mean and median of 10 mo. Canine unicompartmental elbow was associated with 1 catastrophic (1%), 11 major (10.7%), and 28 minor (27.2%) complications. Outcomes following CUE were reported as full function in 49 cases (47.6%), acceptable function in 45 cases (43.7%), and unacceptable function in 9 cases (8.7%). We conclude that CUE arthroplasty is an appropriate consideration for treatment of medial compartment disease of the elbow in dogs.

Résultats cliniques associés à l'utilisation initiale du système d'arthroplastieCanine Unicompartmental Elbow (CUE) Arthroplasty SystemMD. Nous avons évalué les résultats à long et à moyen terme relativement à la fonction et aux complications chez les chiens subissant une arthroplastie du coude unicompartimental canin (CUC) pour le traitement de la maladie compartimentale médiale du coude. Cette série prospective de cas multicentres représente le premier groupe de cas cliniques à recevoir une arthroplastie CUC. Les cas (chaque coude qui a subi une CUC réalisée par un chirurgien participant) étaient inscrits dans une base de données électroniques et suivis de manière prospective afin de déterminer et de consigner toutes les complications connexes ainsi que les résultats fonctionnels. Il y avait 103 cas provenant de 18 chirurgiens. Le temps de suivi final s'échelonnait de 6 à 47 mois avec une moyenne et une médiane de 10 mois. Le coude compartimental canin a été associé à 1 complication catastrophique (1 %), à 11 complications majeures (10,7 %) et à 28 complications mineures (27,2 %). Les résultats après l'arthroplastie CUC ont été signalés comme une fonction complète dans 49 cas (47,6 %), une fonction acceptable dans 45 cas (43,7 %) et une fonction inacceptable dans 9 cas (8,7 %). Nous avons conclu que l'arthroplastie CUC est une considération appropriée pour le traitement de la maladie compartimentale médiale du coude chez les chiens.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Fracture repair using a polyaxial locking plate system (PAX).

OBJECTIVES: To report outcomes and complications of dog and cat fractures treated with the polyaxial locking plate system (PAX). STUDY DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: Dogs (n = 60) and 2 cats. METHODS: Medical records (December 2009-March 2011) of dogs and cats with fractures treated with the PAX system were reviewed. Cases with adequate follow-up to document a functional union, had surgery performed by an author, had no prior treatment of the fracture(s), and with complete operative records were included. Signalment, body weight, bone(s) fractured, area of bone fractured, fracture classification, concurrent orthopedic injuries, complications, time to functional union, if minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) techniques were used, plate size, number of plates, bone graft use, and ancillary methods of fixation were recorded. Additionally, fracture segment: plate length, screw, number of plate holes, number of empty screw holes overlying/adjacent to the fractures, number of cortices engaged above/below the fracture was evaluated. Variables were evaluated statistically for effect on complications and functional union. RESULTS: Sixty-two animals were included. Mean time to functional union was 7.1 weeks. Complications occurred in 12 animals (19%) and plate failure occurred in 3 (5%). Statistically significant factors that affected time to functional union were the presence of multiple injuries and age. Those associated with complications were double plates and number of cortices engaged above and below fractures. CONCLUSIONS: The PAX system allows for multidirectional screw insertion with an overall complication rate and time to functional union similar to other fracture repair implant systems.