title: Lumbosacral transitional vertebra and thoracic limb malformations in a Chihuahua puppy.
abstract: A three-month-old, male Chihuahua puppy with congenital absence of the distal 40% of the right thoracic limb was examined. The limb ended as a short, rounded, skin-covered stump. Radiography revealed a 40% shortened humerus tapered to a blunt end without its distal extremity. Dissection of the left thoracic limb identified luxation of the elbow joint and absence of the fourth digital pad. Alizarin-red staining and clearing demonstrated syndactylous fourth and fifth digits in the left thoracic limb and an anomalous eighth lumbar vertebra. This additional vertebra was unilaterally sacralized and constituted a lumbosacral transitional vertebra.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078, USA.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005552:Forelimb / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006811:Humerus / Q000002:abnormalities; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D014034:Toes / Q000002:abnormalities