Today’s case is a 7 month old female neutered Labrador with right forelimb lameness. Check out the case and post your interpretations in the comments section.
7 month old Labrador Retriever
Teaching and learning about veterinary diagnostic imaging.
There is shortening of the right radius with the styloid process of the radius being proximally displaced compared to the styloid process of the ulna. There is an increased distance between the humeral condyle and the radial head (humero-radial incongruence). There is lateral bowing of the radius. The right distal radial physis is closed and irregular whereas the left one is still opened. On the cranio-caudal projection there is mild sclerosis of the right humeral condyle on the medial aspect of the humeral trochlea; on the lateral view there is mild sclerosis of the ulnar notch; an osteophyte is seen on the cranial aspect of the radial head on the lateral view. Although the medial coronoid process of the right ulna is not clearly fragmented, it is felt to be blunted on the lateral view and has a fuzzy border on the cranio-caudal projection. Distally there is a radio-carpal subluxation.
The left antebrachium is radiographically within normal limits.
CONCLUSION:
Right antebrachium – humero-radial incongruence, elbow DJD and radio-carpal subluxation, all secondary to premature (likely traumatic in origin) of the distal radial physis [short radius syndrom]; Possible secondary fragmentation of the medial coronoid process of the ulna. Recommend CT or MRI of the elbow or arthroscopy to rule this out.
Left antebrachium – normal radiographic aspect.
Right leg:
On the lateral view there is sclerosis associated with the medial coronoid process.
The distal radial growth plate is closed, while the ulnar distal growth plate is open.
On the AP view the margins of the medial condyle and epicondyle of the humerus are slightly irregular.
There is lateral bowing of the radius. Conclusions: elbow displasia, probably due to premature closure of the distal radial growth plate.
Left leg:
No degenerative changes on the lateral view. The distal growth plates of the radius and the ulna are open.
On the AP views there is slight irregularity of the margins of the humeral epicondyle with a small bone defect (?).