Ultrasonography for the diagnosis of diseases of the tendon and tendon sheath of the biceps brachii muscle.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the ultrasonographic appearance of the normal and diseased biceps brachii tendon and its tendon sheath in dogs.


METHODS
A prospective clinical study.


METHODS
One hundred twenty client-owned dogs.


METHODS
In the first part of the study, the ultrasonographic appearance of the normal biceps brachii muscle and the surrounding soft tissue was determined in 27 healthy dogs. Standard views were described and established. In the second part, 120 dogs with suspected pathology of the biceps brachii muscle were examined ultrasonographically. Fifty-five of these dogs had no sonographic changes, and 65 dogs had sonographically detectable pathologic changes of the tendon or the tendon sheath or both. The mean age of the affected dogs was 3.7 years. The ratio of males to females was 1.95:1. Sedation or anesthesia of the dogs was required because of the extreme movements of the leg necessary for the examination. To achieve a perpendicular view of the tendon and the tendon sheath, the area of the shoulder joint was rotated outward and abducted as far as possible. Examination of the muscle-tendon apparatus of the biceps brachii muscle was divided into 4 main sections.


RESULTS
Linear transducers (7.5-10 MHz) allowed the soft tissue structures to be easily visualized with ultrasonography. Pathologic changes of the tendon and tendon sheath were visualized sonographically by using high-frequency linear probes. Partial or complete tendon rupture, medial luxation of the tendon, corpora libera in the tendon sheath, and tenosynovitis were clearly shown.


CONCLUSIONS
High-frequency ultrasonography using linear transducers allows the examiner to accurately define the pathologic changes in the region of the biceps brachii tendon in dogs.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of sonography for diagnosis of disease processes of the tendon and tendon sheath of the biceps brachii muscle complements clinical and radiographic examination findings.
Kramer
M
M
Department of Veterinary Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Small Animal Surgery, Germany.
Gerwing
M
M
Sheppard
C
C
Schimke
E
E
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013717:Tenosynovitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D014463:Ultrasonography