Elbow Dysplasia

D E F I N I T I O N

Elbow Dysplasia is where there is mis-articulation between the joints, meaning that parts of the bone have changed in shape and malformed affecting the function of the joint in terms of movement and weight-bearing.

Elbow Dysplasia is a group of often under-diagnosed developmental orthopaedic diseases of the canine Elbow joint.

Dysplasia means ‘abnormality of development’ and the term Elbow Dysplasia encompasses four diseases: fragmentation of the Medial Coronoid Process, Osteochondrosis of the Medial Humeral Condyle, un-united Anconeal Process, and Elbow incongruity (SEVC Annual Conference, 2007).

The conformation of the joint is abnormal, resulting in osteoarthritis, pain and a reduced range of motion. Other pathological entities like fractures within the joint may need management separately and alongside osteoarthritis (Fitzpatrick Referrals, 2024).

C A U S E S

Prevalent in medium and large breed dogs, Elbow Dysplasia can be hereditary in origin and is a developmental disease affecting young, growing dogs.

Severity ranges from mild to moderate to severe, with moderate to severe cases usually presenting with lameness at 6-12 months old.

The elbow is a complex joint involving the articulation of three bones: the humerus, radius and ulna. The clinical expression of Elbow Dysplasia is a complex interaction between genetics and environment – there has to be genetic predisposition for Elbow Dysplasia to develop.

Factors contributing to developmental Elbow Dysplasia include excessive exercise before maturity, injury or trauma to the joint, rapid growth, poor nutrition, and obesity (Hayes, A., 2020).

S Y M P T O M S

Dogs most commonly present with symptoms of Elbow Dysplasia at 4-12 months of age although some may only show signs later in life when degenerative joint disease becomes severe. Symptoms typically include:

• Weight shifting to the unaffected or less severely affected limb
• Mild to severe lameness, worse following rest or heavy exercise
• Reduced range of motion, with affected elbow(s) held close to the trunk and paw(s) rotated outwards
• Signs of pain with extension or flexion of the elbow joint
• Muscle atrophy (reduced muscle mass) to affected forelimb(s)
• Muscles crossing the affected joint become recruited to compensate directly for weakness
• There may be restrictions of the dog’s back muscles
• Some dogs may have the appearance of overdeveloped hind limb muscles due to compensation from
• shifting weight away from the affected forelimb(s)
• Associated osteoarthritis and discrete pathological entities such as fractures within the joint
• Degenerative changes can cause swelling of the elbow joint with increased fluid (joint effusion), wear of articular cartilage, fibrosis or bone production