Orthopedics

Lameness is defined as a variance from normal gait. There are two types of lameness: anatomical and pathologic. Anatomical lameness may not necessarily be from pain, and can be genetic or acquired. Chondroplasia in the Alaskan Malamute is a genetic condition that would produce lameness.

The distal limb is exposed to many traumatic events as a result of its almost constant interaction with the ground. The distal limb is defined as the anatomical structures from the carpus to the distal end of the front and rear limbs. In this area the skin has minimal muscle and fat under it for cushion.

Animal movement has been a subject of research for a long period of time. Both qualitative and quantitative gait analyses have been used to analyze canine movement. Veterinarians, breeders, owners, and trainers all can potentially benefit from the recent advances in gait analysis.

The veterinary profession is currently witnessing an increased demand from our clientele for information concerning performance of the canine athlete. The expectations come as a result of the scientific advancements in human sports medicine. If a pet owner is only interested in companionship, minimal stress will be placed upon the pet's body.

The patella or kneecap is the largest sesamoid bone in the body and one of 4 in the stifle, the other three being the 2 of the gastrocnemius and the popliteal muscle. The patella lies within the tendon of insertion of the quadriceps muscle. The part of the tendon between the apex or distal aspect of the patella and its insertion on the tibial tuberosity is called the patellar ligament.

The most significant change in recent years in the management of fractures has been the more recent emphasis on "biologic fixation" as opposed to "mechanical fixation". The latter refers to the direct fixation techniques whereby fractures are reconstructed anatomically, and the former refers to indirect fixation techniques whereby the fractures are spanned (or "bridged").

Bridging reconstruction plates were the first implant used with success in the human mandible. Despite their greater ease of use and application in this location as compared to conventional plates, the low perioperative morbidity was unfortunately followed by high long-term morbidity.

Veterinary physical therapy is the process of reconditioning body tissues that have been injured or diseased to their previous state or to a manageable state. Potential applications include recovery from medical cases, injuries, or post-surgical cases. There are three factors to consider in a designing rehabilitation regimen.

The basis of plating, as originally described by the AO, has been: 1) anatomic fracture reduction and fixation, 2) rigid fracture stability (compression or splinting), 3) preservation of the blood supply to the soft tissues and bone through careful handling and gentle reduction techniques, and 4) early and safe mobilization of the area.

The elbow joint or cubital joint is composed of three joints: humeroradial, humeroulnar and proximal radioulnar. The joint capsule includes all three joints with one space. The radial head articulates with the capitulum of the humerus whereas the ulna articulates with the trochlea.

Retrievers can have work-related conditions or they can have genetic conditions. A common work-related problem is related to overheating. A medical condition seen in Labrador Retrievers is Exercise-induced Collapse.

An understanding of the functional anatomy is the prerequisite for successful application of the fracture fixation devices in the unfamiliar location of the mandible. These biomechanical principals must account not only for the very large forces generated, but also the position of the teeth that can – and often do – interfere with implant application.

A controversy exists in the veterinary field as to which surgical technique is the best to repair a dog's knee that has a cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) injury. There are many accepted surgical techniques described (over 40 different methods) to correct the CrCL-deficient joint.

Severe fractures of the femur can be divided into those fractures which must be reconstructed directly and those that can (and should) be reconstructed indirectly. The former include both intra-articular and periarticular fractures of the femoral head and femoral condyles, and diaphysis in the latter.

Columbia, Mo. - While Dr. James Cook decided early on in life to tackle joint replacements, it was a circuitous route-a path that involved professional water skiing, substitute teaching and a man named Robert Gordon-that led him to the brink of a major discovery.

Why you may want to consider a total hip replacement in a large dog.

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When should you consider this procedure?

Which form of surgical treatment is best?

This study demonstrated that short-term administration of glucosamine-chondroitin sulfate does not significantly affect serum fructosamine concentrations in healthy dogs.

A Q&A with Dr. Ronald McLaughlin, a specialist in orthopedics, gait analysis and biomechanics.

Is there an early radiographic marker for hip dysplasia in dogs?

Identifying the cause of forelimb and hind limb lameness in dogs can be a challenge. Until recently, diagnostics in small animal orthopedics included visual gait analysis and radiographs. With advanced diagnostics becoming more readily available (objective gait analysis, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear scintigraphy, arthroscopy, etc) clinicians can now obtain a definitive diagnosis to those challenging conditions.

Injuries to the carpus and tarsus are common in agility and sporting dogs. The carpal and tarsal joints act as sock absorbers for the limb during weight bearing. They are prone to injury due to their complexity and lack of muscular support. The complexity of these joints creates a diagnostic problem for many veterinarians. Many carpal and tarsal injuries, particularly those that go undiagnosed or untreated, can result in an increased risk of osteoarthritis and potential long-term lameness.

Fracture repair results in the creation of a bone-implant composite. Although most of our interventions for fracture repair are successful, at times it seems as though there are an endless number of errors that may prevent the fracture from healing. Fortunately, once the cause of the complication is recognized, the underlying problem can often be corrected and a successful outcome eventually attained.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used to control acute and chronic pain in veterinary patients. The presence and activity of two isoforms of the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme, a constitutive COX-1 and an inducible COX-2, have been investigated intensely since the early 1990s.

The ability to diagnose the cause of a lameness is essential to the small animal clinician. In our day to day practice settings, dogs and cats present with a variety of lamenesses. Many of these problems resolve with rest, or a diagnosis is readily available (cut pad, ingrown nail, etc?).

Traumatic fragmented medial coronoid process (TFMCP) is a condition in the elbow joint of dogs that appears to occur commonly in performance dogs. Unlike the classic condition of fragmented medial coronoid process (FMCP) affecting the elbow joints of skeletally immature large to giant breed dogs, jump down syndrome (TFMCP) appears to have no age or size limitations.

While considered a very common problem in small animal medicine, osteoarthritis is very likely the most under diagnosed, and misunderstood rheumatic disease in dogs and cats. Part of the problem veterinarians face with OA is that it is a slow, progressive and often insidious problem.