Abstract
Objective French Bulldogs are predisposed to humeral condylar fractures. Computed tomography
(CT) in English Springer Spaniel elbows has allowed identification of humeral intracondylar
fissures (HIF), which can cause lameness and predispose to condylar fractures. This
study aimed to evaluate CT characteristics of non-lame French Bulldog elbows, to determine
the presence of underlying elbow disease.
Study Design Retrospective evaluation of CT images from elbows of non-lame French Bulldogs from
scans obtained for soft tissue or neurological evaluation was performed. Images were
evaluated for the presence of HIF and other elbow abnormalities: condylar and supracondylar
remodelling, humeral condylar sclerosis, elbow incongruency, medial coronoid process
disease and elbow osteoarthritis. Descriptive statistics were performed.
Results Computed tomographic scans from 37 dogs (74 elbows) were reviewed. No HIF were identified,
although 28/74 elbows had an intracondylar sclerotic band. Medial coronoid process
disease was noted in 16/74 elbows, and small osteophytes were present in 21/74 elbows,
suggesting a degree of subclinical elbow disease. Widening of the caudolateral aspect
of the radial incisure was identified (37/74) as a breed normal. Elbow incongruency
was otherwise rare.
Conclusion Non-lame French Bulldogs showed a low prevalence of occult elbow disease but a proportion
had radial incisure widening. Although humeral intracondylar sclerosis was present
in over a third of dogs, no HIF were identified and therefore no clear cause for their
increased risk of humeral condylar fracture was identified.
Keywords
French Bulldog - computed tomography - elbow disease - humeral condylar fracture
