Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2025; 38(04): A1-A35
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1810267
PODIUM ABSTRACTS

A Lateral Approach Allows Accurate and Stable Total Elbow Replacement in Dogs

L. Woody
1   Veterinary Specialty Center of Seattle, Seattle, Washington, United States
,
L. P. Guiot
2   Access Bone and Joint Center, Los Angeles, California, United States
,
T. Garcia
3   JD Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States
,
C. Hudson
4   Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists, Houston, Texas, United States
,
M. Sadowitz
5   Bark City Veterinary Specialists, Park City, Utah, United States
,
D. Marcellin-Little
3   JD Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available atVetCenter
 
 

    Introduction: This cadaveric study investigated the safety and efficacy of a lateral surgical approach to implant a total elbow replacement prosthesis in dogs. We hypothesized that total elbow replacement (TER) could be performed more rapidly, more precisely, and with more postoperative joint stability using a lateral approach compared with a medial approach.

    Materials and Methods: An experimental study was conducted on a group of dog cadavers that underwent a medial and a lateral TER. Limb alignment, elbow joint motion, and collateral ligament laxity were evaluated preoperatively. Intraoperative technical difficulties, duration of surgery and anatomic complications were recorded. Limb alignment, elbow joint motion, collateral ligament laxity, and prosthetic component alignment were evaluated after surgery.

    Results: The duration of surgery did not differ between approaches. Anatomic complications were not observed. Compared with the medial approach, the lateral approach resulted in 8 degrees more elbow extension, 1.58 degrees less lateral collateral ligament constraint, 2.80 degrees less medial collateral ligament constraint, 4.38 degrees less frontal plane constraint, 8 degrees greater humeral component inclination, and 5.6 degrees greater radioulnar component varus. Varus of the radius, mechanical axis deviation, limb supination, elbow flexion, mediolateral humeral component and craniocaudal radioulnar component orientation did not differ among joints operated using a lateral or medial approach.

    Discussion/Conclusion: We found in normal cadaveric elbows, a lateral approach for TER appears feasible, producing equivalent limb alignment, joint laxity, and joint motion to normal elbows and to TER placed using a medial approach.

    Acknowledgment

    This study was funded in part by Movora, who covered the cost of medical imaging, surgical instruments and implants, and investigator travel, and by Thrive, who covered the cost of medical 3D printing.


     

    Publication History

    Article published online:
    15 July 2025

    © 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

    Georg Thieme Verlag KG
    Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany