Multi-centre retrospective study of long-term outcomes following traumatic elbow luxation in 37 dogs.
Limited guidelines exist regarding the optimal treatment of traumatic canine elbow luxation, and there is a lack of information on long-term functional outcome. Here we report reduction and stabilisation techniques for a series of traumatic elbow luxations and describe clinical outcome plus long-term questionnaire-based follow-up.



Retrospective review of canine traumatic elbow luxations (2006 to 2013) treated at five referral centres. Data recorded included signalment, luxation aetiology, time to reduction, reduction technique, surgical procedure, post-reduction care and complications. Questionnaire follow-up was attempted for all cases with owners completing the Canine Brief Pain Inventory.



Thirty-seven dogs were included. The most frequent cause of luxation was road traffic accident (n=22). Twenty cases were treated surgically. Seven dogs suffered major postoperative complications: reluxation (n=6), infection requiring implant removal (n=1). Four of the six reluxations occurred in dogs that had other orthopaedic injuries. Twenty-two owners completed the Canine Brief Pain Inventory questionnaire: there were 13 excellent, 6 very good, 1 good and 2 fair outcomes. Outcome was not associated with the reduction technique.



Initial closed reduction, followed by surgical stabilisation if unsuccessful, results in good-to-excellent outcomes in the majority of traumatic canine elbow luxations. Reluxation was the most common major complication and there was a higher incidence of reluxation in patients with multiple orthopaedic injuries.
The Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA.
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D
Sajik
The Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA.
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RL
Meeson
The Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA.
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N
Kulendra
Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, The Granary, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 2LL.
C J
CJ
Jordan
The Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, 2113, Australia.
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D
James
The Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA.
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I
Calvo
Fitzpatrick Referrals, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 2QQ1.
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M
Farrell
The Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA.
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E
Kulendra
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000601:surgery; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000662:veterinary; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D000092464:Elbow Injuries