Abstract
Case History Five juvenile Labrador Retrievers between the ages of 6 and 8 months were presented
to our referral centres with a history of intermittent forelimb lameness.
Clinical Examination The clinical examination revealed the presence of bilateral orthopaedic problems
in four out of five cases.
Diagnostic Imaging Findings Radiographic and computed tomography examinations showed the presence of a radiolucent
defect corresponding to the area of insertion of the infraspinatus or supraspinatus
tendons on the proximal humerus. Three dogs were concurrently affected by elbow disease
on the contralateral forelimb and one dog with bilateral infraspinatus avulsion also
had osteochondritis dissecans affecting both shoulder joints.
Diagnosis Avulsion of the insertion of the infraspinatus tendon in four dogs and of the supraspinatus
tendon in one dog.
Clinical Relevance According to the current literature, the incidence of infraspinatus and supraspinatus
tendinopathies in adult Labrador Retrievers is higher than in other breeds. In our
five cases, the patients were juvenile and the nature of the injury was an avulsion
of the tendinous insertion. Avulsion of the tendon of insertion of the infraspinatus
or supraspinatus has been poorly described in the veterinary literature, and this
would represent the first series of cases affecting juvenile Labrador Retrievers.
Keywords
infraspinatus tendon - supraspinatus tendon - tendon avulsion - Labrador Retriever
- canine - orthopaedic
