Objective
To document clinical outcomes after subtotal coronoid ostectomy (SCO) for treatment of medial coronoid disease (MCD)
Study design
Prospective clinical study
Animals
Dogs (n=263) with MCD
Methods
MCD was treated by a combination of SCO via mini-arthrotomy, cage confinement (6 weeks), leash restricted exercise (12 weeks) and pentosan polysulfate administration. Outcomes were assessed by clinical examination in the short-term (324 elbows), owner questionnaires (146 dogs), clinical examination (90 dogs), subjective assessment of gait (110 elbows) and radiographic examination (180 elbows), 4 months to 7 years 7 months after surgery
Results
One intraoperative complication occurred (1 elbow with fissuring of the ulna) and 8.2% elbows had immediate postoperative complications, the most common being wound infection (7%). Improvement in subjective lameness assessment to a score of 0 was noted at 5 weeks in 74.4% of elbows (veterinary) and 45.6% (owner) and at 12 weeks in 71.5% (veterinary), and 91.2% (owner). Subjective assessments of outcomes in the medium-term revealed 81.9% dogs remained sound, with significantly (P
Conclusion
Management of MCD using the described management regime, including SCO via mini-arthrotomy, deserves consideration and comparison with existing treatment methods
Clinical relevance
Management of MCD by SCO can be considered when gross fissuring or fragmentation of the MCP is not evident. This technique does not require specialized instrumentation
