Summary
Objective: To describe traumatic fracture of the medial coronoid process in dogs as a clinically
distinct disease unrelated to congenital elbow dysplasia.
Methods: Clinical records of dogs with acute, traumatic, unilateral lameness attributable
to medial coronoid process disease were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical interpretation
included findings on physical examination, orthopaedic examination, and subjective
gait analysis. Radiographs of the affected and contralateral elbows were obtained
and reviewed for pathology. Arthroscopy of the elbow joints was performed by one of
three surgeons and findings were compared to preoperative diagnostics. Postoperative
follow-up was continued for 16 weeks.
Results: Twenty-four dogs were included in this study. All dogs in this study were free of
radiographic evidence of medial coronoid pathology. All dogs were diagnosed with a
single, large, displaced or non-displaced fracture of the medial coronoid process,
with no other joint pathology. Dogs generally had an excellent short-term outcome
following arthroscopic treatment of the fractured medial coronoid process.
Clinical significance: Traumatic fracture of the medial coronoid process should be considered a clinical
disease distinct from dysplasia-related fragmentation and should be considered as
a differential diagnosis in dogs that are presented with the complaint of acute unilateral
elbow discomfort or lameness, especially after concussive activities involving the
forelimb.
Keywords
Elbow dysplasia - arthroscopy - medial compartment disease - fractured medial coronoid
process
