Excision Arthroplasty of the Canine Scapulohumeral Joint: Report of Three Cases

Excision arthroplasty has been proposed as an alternative salvage procedure to arthrodesis for conditions of the canine scapulohumeral joint that cannot be effectively treated. The purpose of this paper is to describe the technique, review the indications for the procedure in three cases and discuss complications and long term results. In a retrospective review of 3 cases, all patients had return of pain-free use of the limb. Excision arthroplasty of the canine scapulohumeral joint is less invasive, technically less demanding than arthrodesis and was found to be an effective salvage procedure in the three dogs reported herein.

Key words

Pseudoarthrosis - Excision arthroplasty - Shoulder joint - Scapulohumeral joint

• References

• 1 Brinker W O, Piermattei D L, Flo G L. Chapter 21: Diagnosis and Treatment of Orthopedics of the Forelimb. In Handbook of Small Animal Orthopedic and Fracture Treatment. W B Saunders; 1983: 362-66.
• 2 Piermattei D L, Greely R G. An Atlas of Surgical Approaches to the Bones of the Dog and Cat. 2nd ed.. W B Saunders; 1979: 62-5.
• 3 Parkes L. Excision of the glenoid. Presented at the 3rd Ann Mtg Vet Orthop Soc. Aspen, Colorado: 1976
• 4 Olsson S-E, Figarola F, Suzuki K. Femoral head excision arthroplasty: a salvage operation in severe hip dysplasia in dogs. Clin Orthop 1969; 62: 104-12.
• 5 Mann F A, Tangner C H, Wagner-Mann C. et al. A comparison of standard femoral head and neck excision and femoral head and neck excision using a biceps femoris muscle flap in the dog. Vet Surgery 1987; 16 (03) 223-30.
• 6 Duff R, Campbell J R. Effects of experimental excision arthroplasty of the hip joint. Res Vet Sci 1978; 24: 174-81.
• 7 Benjamin A, Helal B. Surgical repair and reconstruction in rheumatoid disease. The MacMillen Press Ltd; 1980: 95-106.
• 8 Souter W A. The surgical treatment of the rheumatoid shoulder. Ann Acad of Med 1983; 12: 243-255.