A Comparison of Owner-Assessed Evaluation of Long-Term Outcomes for Chronic Pain and Osteoarthritis Postarthroscopy for Medial Coronoid Process Disease

Introduction: Medial coronoid process disease (MCPD) commonly causes thoracic limb lameness in dogs. Our aim was to identify prognostic indicators for long-term outcomes in dogs diagnosed with MCPD treated arthroscopically with subtotal coronoidectomy (ASC). We hypothesized that physical examination (PE), diagnostic imaging and arthroscopy findings could predict long-term outcomes in dogs measured by CBPI and LOAD scores.

Materials and Methods: Medical records of MCPD-diagnosed dogs via CT and treated with ASC between 2010 and 2022 were reviewed, collecting signalment, PE, CT report, and arthroscopy findings. Owners retrospectively completed CBPI and LOAD surveys for three time points (prearthroscopy, postarthroscopy, and time of survey completion). Uni- and multivariate logistic regression was used.

Results: Data from 28 dogs were included. The mean age at surgery and long-term were 24.7 months and 7.14 years. PE findings were unrelated to LOAD or CBPI scores at any time point. Initial improvement in LOAD and CBPI scores occurred in 64 and 72% of dogs, while 32 and 79% maintained improvement long-term. NSAID use was reduced from 32 to 24% long-term. Pain during elbow flexion and lameness severity correlated with CT diagnosis of MCPF (p = 0.04); however, CT only diagnosed 46% of fragments found arthroscopically. Dogs without CT-detected fragments had either fissures or chondromalacia on arthroscopy. Age did not impact arthroscopic findings.

Discussion/Conclusion: Our hypothesis was rejected, as no PE, imaging, or arthroscopy findings correlated with long-term CBPI or LOAD scores. While arthroscopy may not sustain mobility (LOAD), it appears to alleviate long-term pain (CBPI). Further prospective research is indicated due to the retrospective design and small sample size.

Acknowledgment

WSU CISER department for statistical support; Leah Morris, DVM, for writing and editing support.

Publication History

Article published online:
15 July 2025