Elbow Dysplasia

[ROM Newf]

This topic could probably be posted under maladies & diseases but it also fits under breeding and genetics. This post will probably be long. (I may divide it between a couple of posts)
As many know from other posts, the Newf. Club of New England hosted an Educational Forum this past Saturday. One of the speakers was a Dr. Robert McCarthy, who is a professor and orthopedic specialist at Tuft's Univ. College of Veterinary Medicine- a teaching Vet school. His talk was fantastic and a real eye opener. He had proven scientific research to back up what he said on the topic of Canine Elbow Dysplasia.
He started by saying Elbow dysplasia is going to become a lot more common in the Newf breed before it gets any better. This is just the beginning. (Many joked that if Dr. McCarthy had spoken before the reproduction vet, it would have saved the repro vet the trouble- we're all getting out of Newfs after hearing what Dr. McCarthy had to say)

There are 3 types of elbow dysplasia (I'm gonna abbreviate and just say CED instead of Canine Elbow Dysplasia- less typing )
1. OCD (Osteochondritis dessecans (spelling?)
2. UAP (ununited anconeal process)
3. FCP (fractured coronoid process)
FCP is the most common form of CED in Newfs.

The end of the humerus is a perfect circle (ball) and that ball sits in the coronoid process (socket) formed by the radius and ulna. There are 3 bones associated with the elbow- the Humerus (upper or fore arm), the radius, and the ulna. UAP is the result of uneven growth between the bones (radius and ulna). What happens is the radius grows faster than the ulna and in doing so, puts pressure on the anconeal process breaking it off so there is a triangle shaped chip floating around the elbow. Because they know what happens and why, they can do surgery to correct the problem and not just remove the bone chip. They actually cut the ulna and put a rod between the 2 cut pieces. This takes the pressure off the elbow joint and the 2 pieces of the ulna actually separate allowing additional bone to grow between the 2 pieces of ulna- lengthening the ulna so the pressure is taken off the elbow joint and the bones (radius & ulna) grow evenly. Nice & neat and simple (and expensive- about $1500).
I'll continue in another post.

 

[ROM Newf]

Some stats on CED:
33% of the Newfs in Norway have been diagnosed with CED.
57% of the Rotties in Australia have been diagnosed with CED even tho only 15% limped.
30-50% of BMDs have CED.

As I said in the previous post, FCP (fractured coronoid process) is the most common form of CED in Newfoundlands. It, like all forms of CED, is inherited with independent polygenetic traits. Parents with arthritis increase the chance of progeny having CED. There is a "maternal effect" demonstrated in Labs & Rotties. With the maternal effect, the dam provides more genetic influence than the sire.
Dr. McCarthy said that Pano is actually very rare in Newfs. In the majority of supposed pano cases, it is a misdiagnosis. The true problem is FCP. FCP should be suspected if the dog has: intermittent, persistent or shifting leg lameness; a stiff, choppy, stilted forelimb gait; and/or a pocket of fluid at the outside of the elbow.
FCP usually appears when the puppy is between the ages of 4-7 mos. The dog will limp on one leg and then the other leg (caused by one elbow being very sore so he'll start putting more weight on the other elbow until that one becomes really sore, then go back to the first leg, etc). The dog then usually stops limping sometime after 7 mos of age and won't limp again until 2-4 years of age. The limping at the later age is due to arthritis that has formed in the elbow. It is difficult, if not impossible, to see FCP on radiographs. CAT scans and arthroscopy are the preferred means of diagnosis. When you submit elbow xrays to OFA, they are looking for arthritis in order to diagnose FCP. FCP does not occur due to rapid weight gain. Elbow incongruity is believed to be the underlying cause of all manifestations of CED.
The conformation of the upper arm/shoulder assembly is suspect in FCP.
All forms of CED can be reduced with selective breeding.
Medical management (NSAIDs, DMOAs, moderate exercise, weight management) often gives the same relief as surgery. The preferred surgical method is arthroscopy- which is less invasive and less damaging and shorter recouperation period. But, with FCP, they can only treat the symptoms (remove the bone chips) since they don't know what is wrong with the arm/shoulder/elbow assembly which is causing the coronoid process to chip.

OCD is the result of a cartilege defect in the elbow. Not much can be done other than scraping the bone.

95% of all hip dysplasia is bilateral. 5% is unilateral.

10 years ago cruciate ruptures were a trauma injury. Now, tearing of the cranial cruciate ligament is happening more often with dogs just walking around and not due to trauma. Cruciate ruptures happen more in dogs without sufficient rear angulation so it appears to be conformation-linked. TPLO is the best option for repairing cruciates in Newfs.
Even with all the talk of surgical methods, Dr. McCarthy is not "cut-happy." He says he weighs the benefits of surgery vs the benefits of medical management and often goes with the medical management instead of surgery. He had graphs which showed the same benefits to the dog for surgery and medical management. Of course your miles may vary.
Disclaimer: I am not a vet and am not practicing medicine. Just relaying what was said at the educational forum.
Linda

 

[sarnewfie]

Thanx for posting this and sharing it linda!

 

[NewfMom]

Yes thanks! We're too far away. With Kimber's history I'd like to learn all I can about this before we get our next newf.