Type I congenital elbow luxation treated by radial head ostectomy in four dogs (2019–2021)

Abstract

Four dogs with a median age of 5 months (4–8 months) were presented with type I congenital elbow luxation. Two dogs were bilaterally affected. All dogs had severe lameness and limited range of motion of the affected elbow. All were treated by radial head ostectomy. Mid‐term results were assessed by clinical and radiographic or computed tomography follow‐up in three dogs and using a validated owner questionnaire, the canine brief pain inventory (CBPI), in all dogs. Long‐term follow‐up was continued using the same questionnaire over a median time of 40.5 months. Follow‐up computed tomography or radiographs showed persistent humeroulnar incongruency and bone proliferation proximal to the ostectomy site. All owners reported rare episodes of mild lameness and a decreased CBPI score. This therapeutic option provided satisfactory mid‐ and long‐term outcomes. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the first report of bilateral radial head ostectomy in dogs with type I congenital elbow luxation.