title: Management of antebrachial deformity and shortening secondary to a synostosis in a dog.
abstract: A nine-week-old labrador was presented with a deformed left forelimb causing obvious lameness. Radiographs suggested that the dog had suffered a fracture involving the radius and ulna which had healed resulting in a synostosis. There was a concurrent radial physeal injury. The dog was treated initially by osteotomy of the radius and ulna stabilised using a static external skeletal fixator. At a subsequent surgery lengthening of the limb was achieved by using an Ilizarov apparatus. Worsening carpal hyperflexion was managed by bandaging in forced extension. A successful outcome was achieved with a final result of a 24 per cent discrepancy in length between the two radii at 17 months of age. An increase in length of the ipsilateral humerus was seen in association with the shortened forelimb.
authors.affiliation: Queen Mother Hospital, Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Langley-Hobbs
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pead
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Torrington
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D016267:External Fixators / Q000662:veterinary*; D005552:Forelimb / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006811:Humerus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D011884:Radius / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013580:Synostosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D014457:Ulna / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging