Elbow Dysplasia

Description
Elbow dysplasia means abnormal development of the elbow joint. In dogs there are several developmental abnormalities which can occur and which form part of this disease syndrome including :

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)
Ununited anconeal process
Ununited (or fragmented) coronoid process

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Cause
There is a strong genetic influence in the development of elbow dysplasia in certain breeds. In others a genetic cause has yet to be confirmed.

However, because there is likely to be a genetic influence affected dogs should not be bred from and owners of affected breeds are encouraged to submit their animals to the screening programme being run, in the UK, by the British Veterinary Association and the Kennel Club.

Contact your veterinarian for further information , or write to Provet at info@provet.co.uk

Other possible causes are trauma to the elbow, and other developmental problems.


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Breed Occurrence
Elbow dysplasia usually affects large and giant breeds of dog and , in it's various forms, has an increased incidence in the Afghan, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bullmastiff, French Bulldog, German Shepherd Dog, Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, Labrador Retriever, Pointer, Pyrenean Mountain Dog, St Bernard and Weimeraner. It has also been reported in achondroplastic breeds - the Bassett Hound and the Dachshund.


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Signs
All forms of elbow dysplasia may cause front leg lameness which starts between 6-12 months of age. If the condition is bilateral (common) both front legs will be lame. Other signs include :

Some dogs have elbow dysplasia but show no clinical signs
Abnormal posture - the elbow may be held out away form the body
Abnormal gait - the foreleg may be thrown out away from the body during walking/running, and the dog may take short stilted steps.
Stiffness - the dog may walk with a stiff, jerky action in the affected foreleg(s)
Limited range of movement - the range of movement in the elbow joints may be greatly reduced.
Pain - the dog may yelp when it uses the leg
Swelling of the joint - as secondary changes occur in the elbow, soft tissue swelling and new bone deposition around the joint will increase it's size.
Reluctance to exercise - especially if the elbow(s) is(are) painful

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Complications
Reduced exercise may increase the likelihood of obesity and increased body weight can make the signs (eg lameness) associated with elbow dysplasia worse.


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Diagnosis
Diagnosis is confirmed by the clinical signs, pain on flexion and extension of the elbows and on radiography:





Ununited Anconeal Process (triangular bone fragment)





Coronoid Disease




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Treatment
Treatment depends upon the primary cause of the disease :

Surgery to remove or fix in place an ununited anconeal process
Surgery to remove bone and cartilage fragments in fragmented coronoid process
Surgery to remove bone and cartilage fragments in osteochondrosis dissecans
Analgesics - to reduce pain
Anti-inflammatory drugs - to reduce the inflammatory reaction going on in the joint
Reduce body weight if the animal is overwieght/obese
Controlled exercise - avoid excessive exercise

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Prognosis
Most cases will progress to develop secondary osteoarthitis


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Long term problems
Chronic osteoarthritis with lameness and reduced range of movement in the affected elbow(s)