Pet dogs are prone to fractures, such as falling, being crushed by heavy objects, muscle traction, being hit, twisting when running, and jumping, etc., which may cause fractures in dogs.

Elbow dislocation

⑴Cause: There are two types of elbow dislocation: congenital and acquired. Congenital disease accounts for 17% to 20%. It is most common in small breed dogs, such as Pekingese, English cattle dogs, English sheepdogs, etc. Congenital elbow dislocation may be genetically related, such as a high incidence of bilaterality; multiple episodes in a litter; and some puppies with multiple soft tissue and bone abnormalities. Acquired elbow dislocation is often caused by trauma.

⑵ Symptoms: Congenital elbow dislocation in dogs mostly occurs between 3 and 6 months of age, with symptoms occurring on one or both forelimbs. The elbow joint is flexed and cannot be extended, and the patient walks with a limp. The elbow process is abducted and rotated forward and upward at 45~90o. During traumatic elbow dislocation, there is sudden lameness and local soft tissue damage. There is often obvious lateral dislocation, the radius and ulna are displaced outward, and the forearm or front paw is internally rotated or adducted. The joints are flexed, the pain is obvious, and the joints cannot be extended or flexed. Due to flexion of the joints, the animal's fingers do not touch the ground when standing.

⑶Diagnosis: It is easy to diagnose based on clinical symptoms and palpation. X-ray examination can show no fractures and ligament rupture.

⑷Treatment

①Congenital elbow joint dislocation: Newly born puppy dogs can be treated with closed plastic surgery and fixation. After the reduction, use steel pins to enter the distal end of the humerus from the cubital process or cross the humeral condyle and cubital process for fixation. This can be achieved successfully with external fixation; for young dogs between 1 and 16 weeks old, open reduction and fixation can be used. . Surgical methods include lateral capsuloplasty, lateral ligament incision, trochlear and trochlear notch reconstruction, etc. However, if the dog can support its weight or walk, it is not suitable for surgical treatment. After surgery, it is recommended to use a "herringbone" splint and bandage for fixation.

② Traumatic elbow dislocation has two types: closed and open restoration and fixation. During closed plastic surgery, the elbow joint is flexed 100~110o, and the right thumb presses the olecranon process inward to make it get stuck on the inner surface of the lateral epicondyle of the humerus (olecranon fossa), and then the left thumb presses the radial head inward to make it slide through. The capitellum of the humerus is reduced. If the radial head is pressed inward and it is difficult to reduce it, you can first extend the joint slightly to make the olecranon process get stuck in the olecranon fossa, and use it as a fixed fulcrum, then rotate and adduct the forearm bone inward to slide the radial head inward and reduce it. . After rehabilitation, use a herringbone bandage for 2 weeks and restrict joint movement for 6 weeks to reduce joint flexion. In open plastic surgery, the lateral surgical access of the elbow joint is usually selected to incise the joint capsule and expose the joint. Reconstruct according to the closed reconstruction method. If it cannot be reduced, you can use a blunt instrument (such as blunt scissors without opening), insert it between the inside of the radial head and the lateral condyle of the rib, and when the joint is flexed, pry the lateral condyle of the humerus forward and outward to reduce it. If the lateral ligament is ruptured, the ligaments can be sutured or screws can be used to separate the two sides.The broken end is fixed to the lateral condyle of the humerus and the radial head.

Postoperative care

(1) Regardless of external or internal fixation, the dog’s movement must be restricted within 2 weeks after surgery, and the dog can move freely after 2 weeks.

(2) Systemic application of antibiotics to prevent and control infection.

(3) 24 to 48 hours after external fixation, check whether there is edema under the fixation. If there is swelling, it means that the bandage is too tight and should be re-bandaged.

(4) Strengthen feeding management and nutrition, and supplement vitamin A, vitamin D and calcium preparations.

(5) The external fixation bandage is usually removed after 45 to 60 days, and the internal fixation is scheduled for 180 days. The bone marrow needle or bone plate can be removed surgically after an X-ray examination.