Case History: A 6 years old intact male mixed breed hound dog weighing 23 kg was presented to the Teaching Animal Hospital, Chonbuk National University with the clinical history of gunshot wound at the left elbow. There was severe lameness on the affected limb. Severe pain and bleeding from the wound were also evident.

Clinical Examination: On admission the dog was found unthrifty. There was severe lameness on the left forelimb and still there was slight bleeding from the wound. The subcutaneous tissues and muscles surrounding to the wound were burnt. The rectal temperature was 38.8?, pulse rate 140/min and respiratory rate 40/ min. Radiograph of the affected elbow revealed the presence of a large metallic bullet (99.5 gm) caudal to the olecranon processes and comminuted fracture of the proximal radius and ulna. The hematology, serum biochemical analysis, blood gas analysis and urinalysis were performed. The hematologic abnormalities included low PCV (33%; reference range 37-55%) and low Hb (12.5 mg/dL, reference range 15.0 mg/dL). The abnormal serum biochemical findings included hypoproteinemia (3.0 gm/dL, reference range 3.6-5.2 gm/dL) and hypoalbuminemia (0.70 gm/dL, reference range 2.3-3.8 gm/dL). The blood gas analysis and urinalysis results were normal.

Diagnosis: Diagnosis was made as comminuted fracture of the proximal radius and ulna on the basis of the clinical findings and radiographic examinations.

Result & Discussion: This resulted in improving the case but after 60 weeks the plate was bent and there was exudation from the wound. The third treatment strategy was the same with the second except for that the bone autografts were collected from the proximal metaphyses of the ipsilateral humerus. This resulted in a successful arthrodesis 6 weeks after the surgery. Elbow arthrodesis with bone autograft resulted in acceptable function, but abnormal gait remained in the dog due to mechanical interference with the movement of the joint.

References

1.  Penwick, RC (1987) Arthrodesis. Vet Clin North Am (Small Anim Pract) 17: 821-840.

2.  Johnson, KA (1995) Small Animal Orthopedics. Ed Olmstead, MJ, pp. 503-516, Mosby, St Louis.