Trattamento precoce della displasia di gomito nel cane mediante osteotomia ulnare dinamica prossimale biobliqua (bodpuo)

Abstract

Elbow dysplasia is one of the most common orthopedic disease of growth in dogs, especially in medium, large and giant breeds. Genetics represent the main etiologic factor in developing dysplasia, whose majority of cases occurs bilateral. Bi-oblique dynamic proximal ulnar osteotomy (BODPUO) can be proposed as an early treatment when it’s performed between 5 months and 12 months of age, in order to correct the articular incongruence of radius and ulna, due to the asynchronous growth of both bones. The aim of this study is to expose outcomes of bilateral treatment procedure compared to unilateral in dogs with a diagnosis of elbow dysplasia. The simultaneous treatment of both elbows would allow, in fact, to fall into the timeslot useful to go to perform a corrective osteotomy as a preventive treatment. Sixty-eight clinical cases were observed: there are 25 of those that were treated with unilateral BODPUO procedure and 43 were treated with the bilateral procedure. Outcomes were evaluated with radiography and follow up at 30, 60 and 90 days after surgery and with clinical monitoring at home. Results have shown that the rate of severities among bilateral treatment procedure cases is 9,3%, instead of 8% in unilateral procedure; with a rate of difference of 1,3%. Complications may include seromas, migration of bone segments, infections, exuberant callus, radioulnar synostosis, radio lesion, permanent lameness and slightly oblique osteotomy. Till now there is no evidence in defining the most effective treatment of elbow dysplasia; nevertheless results of this study have shown that bilateral BODPUO procedure may be considered as an eligible prevention treatment, with a low rate of complications post surgery. Plus, severities may not depend of the bilateral procedure itself, but of osteotomy and non-adequate post surgery management.