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).

Arthroscopically assisted treatment of injury to the lateral glenohumeral ligament in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To report short and medium term outcomes, and complications, in dogs treated for rupture of the lateral glenohumeral ligament (LGHL) with a novel, arthroscopically assisted technique. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Dogs (n = 10) with LGHL injury. METHODS: Dogs were included after arthroscopic confirmation of rupture of the LGHL and treatment using an arthroscopically assisted suture anchor technique with informed owner consent. Outcomes were assessed by the authors and owners and complications arising from treatment recorded. RESULTS: After 6 months, 7 dogs were assessed as having full function, 2 as having acceptable function, and 1 had poor function. There was 1 minor intra-operative and 1 minor post-operative complication. There were no major complications encountered 6 months after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Dogs with LGHL injury can be treated using this novel technique with low complication rates and good outcomes after 6 months.

Outcomes associated with treatments for medial, lateral, and multidirectional shoulder instability in dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To describe demographic factors, treatments, and outcomes associated with shoulder instability in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Multi-center, retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS: Dog (n = 130) with shoulder instability. METHODS: Medical records (October 2007-2010) from 4 hospitals of dogs with shoulder instability were reviewed to document age, breed, weight, and gender, categorize them into diagnosis cohorts of medial (MSI), lateral (LSI), or multidirectional (MDI) instability, determine treatments, and document outcomes. Treatment cohorts were defined as nonsurgical management, radiofrequency-induced thermal capsulorrhaphy (RITC), or shoulder reconstruction. Outcomes based upon clinician reevaluation and owner input >1 year after diagnosis were used to determine success, failure, and complication rates. RESULTS: Most dogs were diagnosed with MSI, but 23% had LSI or MDI. Dogs with MSI treated by reconstruction were more likely than dogs treated without surgery to have a successful outcome (odd's ratio = 3.0; P = .01). Similarly, treatment of MDI with reconstruction was more likely to be associated with a successful outcome than nonsurgical management (odd's ratio = 5.0; P = .007). Success with surgical and nonsurgical management was equivocal between LSI treatment cohorts, but the number of dogs with LSI was small. Complication rates for all treatment cohorts were <10%. CONCLUSIONS: In dogs with shoulder instability, LSI and MDI are less common than MSI. Surgical reconstruction for treatment of MSI and MDI appears to produce a higher likelihood of achieving successful outcomes than nonsurgical management and surgical complication rates were low but these conclusions are tempered by the limitations of the study.