title: Treatment of dogs diagnosed with medial shoulder instability using radiofrequency-induced thermal capsulorrhaphy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report clinical findings and outcome in dogs diagnosed with medial shoulder instability (MSI) treated with radiofrequency-induced thermal capsulorrhaphy (RITC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs (n=43) with MSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records from consecutive cases with MSI based on orthopedic examination, palpation of shoulder abduction angles, and arthroscopic findings were used to determine clinical findings and long-term (> or = 1 year) outcome of RITC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-three dogs met the criteria for inclusion; 2 dogs had bilateral MSI. The most common clinical findings were chronic unilateral weight-bearing lameness, large (> 45 degrees) shoulder abduction angles, and spinatus muscle atrophy in the affected limb. Mean preoperative abduction angle (50.7 degrees +/- 4.8 degrees) in affected shoulders was significantly larger than in the unaffected shoulders (32.5 degrees +/- 2.1 degrees). Mean postoperative abduction angle in affected shoulders was not significantly different from unaffected shoulders when measured immediately, 8, 16-20 weeks, and approximately 1 year after surgery. Follow-up evaluation ranged from 1 to 6.2 years. RITC treatment resulted in improved clinical function in 40 cases (93%) with 34 cases (79%) considered excellent; 3 cases (7%) were considered failures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RITC was a safe and effective method of treatment of MSI in most dogs studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RITC can be considered as a viable option for surgical treatment of selected cases of MSI in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. cookjl@missouri.edu
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.forename: Derek B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kenter
authors.forename: Cristi R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012785:Shoulder Joint; D016896:Treatment Outcome