Summary
A four month old Dalmatian puppy affected by congenital luxation of the radial head
was very lame on the right front limb and was not weight bearing after little exercise.
The radiological examination revealed humero-radial articular incongruity, excessive
humeral trochlea development, trochlear notch deformation, and medial deviation of
the olecranon. The surgery performed was derived from a modification of a human orthopaedic
procedure, the Bell-Tawse technique. It was intended to increase the articular contact
surface between the humerus and radius, with ostectomy, rotation, and osteosynthesis
of the radius; to treat the luxation, by reduction and elbow annular ligament reconstruction;
to prevent its recurrence, by means of a Kirschner pin inserted through the lateral
humeral epicondyle to the radial head. Over six months the patient completely recovered.
A congenital luxation of the radial head in a puppy was treated successfully employing
a technique reported in human orthopaedics.
Keywords
Puppy - elbow - congenital elbow luxation - annular ligament
