Elbow dysplasiais a malformation of the elbow joint. The malposition is accompanied by various clinical pictures of the elbow joint and the bones and cartilage involved.
Elbow dysplasia can have different causes. As a result of an injury or an accident, severe overload, long-term malnutrition or growth disorders. In addition, the hereditary component is now considered safe. The predisposition to ED is inherited polygenetically, which means that several genes are responsible for it.
Diseases that include occur as a result of elbow dysplasia
FCP (Fragmented Coronoid Process) is a fragmented, i.e. broken, inner coronoid process. The coronet process belongs to the ulna and is part of the socket of the elbow joint. Due to the complexity of this disease, the term MCD (medial coronoid disease) has also been used for some time.
OCD (Osteochondrosis dissecans) is a bone cartilage disease with formation of an isolated "chip". OCD can also occur in other joints (e.g. shoulder, knee, hip and ankle joints). Untreated OCD progressively worsens as the bone/cartilage chip needs to be removed. An operation is essential in order not to further damage the affected joint.
FCP and OCD can appear as early as seven or eight months of age.
The UAP (Ununited Anconaeal Process) is a special form of ED in which the processus anconaeus (the "joint nose" formed by the ulna) remains isolated and does not connect with the Elle connects. The corresponding cartilage joint is not built through with bone.
Locations for the ED's misdevelopment:
1 Step formation between ulna (ulna) and radius (radius). The bones are of different lengths and not even in the elbow joint.
2 Broken or isolated bony process (processus anconaeus), FCP
3 Chippings and loose bone/cartilage at the socket of the ulna
4 Isolated chip (bone or cartilage fragment) between the articular surfaces (OCD)
How to recognize elbow dysplasia
The externally recognizable signs of the respective changes are:
Slight to severe, sometimes mutual lameness,
Partial external rotation of the elbow joint in movement,
Swelling of the joint,
Pain when bending and/or stretching or hyperextending the elbow joint.
Especially when both joints are affected, the dog's gait often becomes very stiff with greatly shortened strides. Young animals are particularly often affected; they usually show their first symptoms at around 6 months of age.
As a result of the changes, arthrosis (permanent joint changes) with pain and chronic lameness of varying severity develop.
All these diseases have in common that they develop during growth.
Severity and classification of ED
Severity | Criteria |
Grade 0: Normal | no osteophytes or sclerosis |
Grade I: Mild arthrosis | Deformations or step formation Osteophytes smaller than 2 mm or sclerosis of the articular surface of the ulna |
Grade II: moderate arthrosis | Osteophytes between 2 and 5 mm in size |
Grade III: Severe arthrosis | Osteophytes larger than 5 mm |
The osteophytes are bone outgrowths and changes
Sclerosisis the hardening of the otherwise elastic cartilage surfaces
Gait with an ED
Treatment of ED
If an X-ray has detected a malformation, there are different surgical ways, depending on the extent and clinical picture, to enable the dog to walk pain-free again.
Arthrosis treatment with painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, joint fluid replacement, glucosaminoglycans ("mussel extract"), homeopathic substances accompany the therapy. Physiotherapy to build up the surrounding muscles is also advisable.
Provision
Slow feeding large dogs and avoiding an oversupply or undersupply of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus as well as certain vitamins are important points. In addition, the joints of young dogs in particular should not be overloaded regularly and over a long period of time. In this context, it is also important to avoid being overweight.
Dogs with ED (grade 1 and higher) should be excluded from breeding due to heritability. In principle, both elbow joints are to be X-rayed and the animals must be at least twelve months old at the time of the examination.
As with the hip dysplasia< /a> an examination makes sense even without breeding plans, since measures can be taken at an early stage in the event of changes, thus ensuring a longer pain-free life for the dog.
Sources:kleintierzentrum-walluf.de