A modified Bell-Tawse Proceduter for surgical correction of congenital elbow luxation in a Dalmatian puppy

Abstract

SummaryA four month old Dalmatian puppy affected by congenital luxation of the radial head was very lame on the right front limb and was not weight bearing after little exercise. The radiological examination revealed humero-radial articular incongruity, excessive humeral trochlea development, trochlear notch deformation, and medial deviation of the olecranon. The surgery performed was derived from a modification of a human orthopaedic procedure, the Bell-Tawse technique. It was intended to increase the articular contact surface between the humerus and radius, with ostectomy, rotation, and osteosynthesis of the radius; to treat the luxation, by reduction and elbow annular ligament reconstruction; to prevent its recurrence, by means of a Kirschner pin inserted through the lateral humeral epicondyle to the radial head. Over six months the patient completely recovered.A congenital luxation of the radial head in a puppy was treated successfully employing a technique reported in human orthopaedics.