CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1785446
Original Research

Humeral Condylar Fractures in French Bulldogs: Prevalence of Contralateral Intracondylar Fissure, Treatment, and Outcome

Paula Lopez de la Oliva
1   Vets Now Referrals Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
,
Luke Arnott
2   AM Orthopaedics & Associates, Broadleys Veterinary Hospital, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
,
Leonor Roses
1   Vets Now Referrals Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
,
William Marshall
1   Vets Now Referrals Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
,
Davinia Arnott
2   AM Orthopaedics & Associates, Broadleys Veterinary Hospital, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
Funding IVC Evidensia will pay for Open access.

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to report (1) the prevalence of contralateral humeral intracondylar GAP/HIF (HIF) in French Bulldogs with humeral condylar fractures (HCF) and (2) treatment and short- and long-term outcome in French Bulldogs with HCF.

Materials and Methods Medical records of French Bulldogs treated surgically for HCF between January 2011 and November 2022 were reviewed. Perioperative imaging, surgical technique, complications, and long-term outcome were assessed.

Results Eighty-nine dogs with HCF were included and 36/89 were diagnosed with HIF. Surgical repair was performed in all HCF and a prophylactic transcondylar screw was placed in 20/36 HIF. For prophylactic transcondylar screw placement, two dogs required immediate revision surgery. Complications occurred in 12/89 HCF, and there were major complications in 6/89 HCF. Long-term outcome evaluated by owner questionnaire (n = 27) was rated as being excellent in 18/27 dogs, good in 8/27 dogs, and fair in 1/27 dogs.

Clinical Significance Forty percent of French Bulldogs with HCF had a contralateral HIF. HIF as a cause of HCF should be considered in the French Bulldog, and a computed tomography (CT) scan of both elbows may be advisable prior to HCF repair. The complication rate of HCF surgery in the French Bulldog is significant.

Note

The draft of this study was presented as an abstract at the BVOA conference in March 2022.


Authors' Contribution

P.L. contributed to the study design, acquisition of data, and data analysis and interpretation, and drafted and approved the manuscript. L.A. contributed to conception of the study, study design, acquisition of data, and data analysis and interpretation, and drafted and approved the manuscript. L.R. contributed to acquisition of data and data analysis and interpretation, and drafted and approved the manuscript. W.M. contributed to data analysis and interpretation and drafted and approved the manuscript. D.A. contributed to conception of the study, study design, acquisition of data, and data analysis and interpretation, and drafted and approved the manuscript.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 15 May 2023

Accepted: 24 February 2024

Article published online:
16 April 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
  • References

  • 1 Smith MAJ, Jenkins G, Dean BL, O'Neill TM, Macdonald NJ. Effect of breed as a risk factor for humeral condylar fracture in skeletally immature dogs. J Small Anim Pract 2020; 61 (06) 374-380
  • 2 Sanchez Villamil C, Phillips ASJ, Pegram CL, O'Neill DG, Meeson RL. Impact of breed on canine humeral condylar fracture configuration, surgical management, and outcome. Vet Surg 2020; 49 (04) 639-647
  • 3 Marcellin-Little DJ, DeYoung DJ, Ferris KK, Berry CM. Incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle in spaniels. Vet Surg 1994; 23 (06) 475-487
  • 4 Marcellin-Little DJ. Incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle in dogs. In: Bonagura WB. ed. Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy XIII Small Animal Practice. Philadelphia, PA:: WB Saunders; 2000: 1000-1004
  • 5 Buttersworth SJ, Innes JF. Incomplete HCF in the dog. J Small Anim Pract 2001; 42: 394-398
  • 6 Farrell M, Trevail T, Marshall W, Yeadon R, Carmichael S. Computed tomographic documentation of the natural progression of humeral intracondylar fissure in a cocker spaniel. Vet Surg 2011; 40 (08) 966-971
  • 7 Kvale E, Kalmukov I, Grassato L, Kalff S, Solano M. Epicondylar plate fixation of humeral condylar fractures in immature French Bulldogs: 45 cases (2014-2020). J Small Anim Pract 2022; 63 (07) 532-541
  • 8 Strohmeier UW, Harris KP. Humeral intracondylar fissures in French bulldogs. Vet Rec 2021; 189 (11) e504
  • 9 Anderson OJ, Langley-Hobbs SJ, Parsons KJ. Humeral condylar fractures and fissures in the French Bulldog. Vet Surg 2023; 52 (01) 134-145
  • 10 Ticer JW. General principles. In: Ticer J. ed. Radiographic Techniques in Small Animal Practice. Philadelphia, PA:: WB Saunders;; 1975: 97-102
  • 11 Gnudi G, Martini FM, Zanichelli S. et al. Incomplete humeral condylar fracture in two English Pointer dogs. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2005; 18 (04) 243-245
  • 12 Toal RL, Mitchell SK. Fracture healing and complications. In: Thrall DE. ed. Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology. Philadelphia, PA:: WB Saunders;; 2002: 161-178
  • 13 Rovesti GL, Flückiger M, Margini A, Marcellin-Little DJ. Fragmented coronoid process and incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle in a rottweiler. Vet Surg 1998; 27 (04) 354-357
  • 14 Guille AE, Lewis DD, Anderson TP. et al. Evaluation of surgical repair of humeral condylar fractures using self-compressing orthofix pins in 23 dogs. Vet Surg 2004; 33 (04) 314-322
  • 15 Morgan OD, Reetz JA, Brown DC, Tucker SM, Mayhew PD. Complication rate, outcome, and risk factors associated with surgical repair of fractures of the lateral aspect of the humeral condyle in dogs. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2008; 21 (05) 400-405
  • 16 Moffatt F, Kulendra E, Meeson RL. Repair of Y-T humeral condyle fractures with locking compression plate fixation. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2019; 32 (05) 401-407
  • 17 Walton MB, Crystal E, Morrison S. et al. A humeral intracondylar repair system for the management of humeral intracondylar fissure and humeral condylar fracture. J Small Anim Pract 2020; 61 (12) 757-765
  • 18 Perry KL, Bruce M, Woods S, Davies C, Heaps LA, Arthurs GI. Effect of fixation method on postoperative complication rates after surgical stabilization of lateral humeral condylar fractures in dogs. Vet Surg 2015; 44 (02) 246-255
  • 19 Cinti F, Pisani G, Vezzoni L, Peirone B, Vezzoni A. Kirschner wire fixation of Salter-Harris type IV fracture of the lateral aspect of the humeral condyle in growing dogs. A retrospective study of 35 fractures. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2017; 30 (01) 62-68
  • 20 Moores AP, Tivers MS, Grierson J. Clinical assessment of a shaft screw for stabilization of the humeral condyle in dogs. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2014; 27 (03) 179-185
  • 21 Hattersley R, McKee M, O'Neill T. et al. Postoperative complications after surgical management of incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle in dogs. Vet Surg 2011; 40 (06) 728-733
  • 22 Chase D, Sul R, Solano M, Calvo I, Joslyn S, Farrell M. Short- and long-term outcome after transcondylar screw placement to treat humeral intracondylar fissure in dogs. Vet Surg 2019; 48 (03) 299-308
  • 23 McCarthy J, Woods S, Mosley JR. Long-term outcome following management of canine humeral intracondylar fissure using a medial approach and a cannulated drill system. Vet Rec 2020; 186 (15) 490
  • 24 Cook JL, Evans R, Conzemius MG. et al. Proposed definitions and criteria for reporting time frame, outcome, and complications for clinical orthopedic studies in veterinary medicine. Vet Surg 2010; 39 (08) 905-908
  • 25 Johnson KA. Piermattei's Atlas of Surgical Approaches to the Bones and Joints of the Dog and Cat. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2014: 202-208 , 250–251
  • 26 Ahmad M, Nanda R, Bajwa AS, Candal-Couto J, Green S, Hui AC. Biomechanical testing of the locking compression plate: when does the distance between bone and implant significantly reduce construct stability?. Injury 2007; 38 (03) 358-364
  • 27 Martin RB, Crews L, Saveraid T, Conzemius MG. Prevalence of incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle in the limb opposite humeral condylar fracture: 14 dogs. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2010; 23 (03) 168-172
  • 28 Carwardine D, Burton NJ, Knowles TG, Barthelemy N, Parsons KJ. Outcomes, complications and risk factors following fluoroscopically guided transcondylar screw placement for humeral intracondylar fissure. J Small Anim Pract 2021; 62 (10) 895-902