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The elbow joint is formed by three bones - the radius, ulna and humerus. Malformations can occur in the elbow joint mainly in medium or large breed dogs. Elbow dysplasia is an inherited disease, manifesting itself especially during the intensive growth phase (4-10 months of puppy life), but also in adult dogs. They are characterized by abnormal changes in the elbow joint, especially in cartilage growth or its surrounding structures. These changes can lead to osteoarthritis at a later stage.

The first changes are associated with osteochondrosis, which is abnormal development of the cartilage in the joint. OCD (osteochondritis dissecans) involves the separation of diseased cartilage on the joint surface as a result of bone necrosis.

UAP (ununited anconeal process) - an unfused ulnar collateral process causes pain and the animal begins to limp, and if unnoticed can lead to destruction of the elbow joint.

FCP and FMCP (fragmented or ununited medial coronoid process) are causes of dysplasia. They consist of a defect of the processes on the medial articular surface of the ulnar bone, forming a gap, which then enlarges, causing separation of the process from the bone.

Making a diagnosis, in addition to a history and physical examination, requires the need for a radiological examination in targeted projections and even sometimes a CT scan.

At our Clinic, we offer a number of treatment options for elbow dysplasia, ranging from pharmacological treatment to surgical intervention.

Pharmacological treatment, in addition to the standard anti-inflammatory drugs, involves the use of hyaluronic acid, synthetic delivery prostheses such as Noltrex, platelet-rich plasma therapy or IRAP, or Arthrex ABPS therapy.

The choice of surgical technique depends on the severity of the lesion and the age of the animal. Typical surgical procedures include arthroscopic revision of the joint with removal of the process, early distal transverse osteotomy, double oblique ulnar osteotomy, PAUL (proximal abducting ulnar osteotomy), and CUE (canine unicompartmental elbow).