MANAGEMENT OF ANTEBRACHIAL DEFORMITY AND SHORTENING SECONDARY TO A SYNOSTOSIS IN A DOG

A nine-week-old labrador was presented with a deformed left forelimb c ausing obvious lameness. Radiographs suggested that the dog had suffer ed a fracture involving the radius and ulna which had healed resulting in a synostosis. There was a concurrent radial physeal injury. The do g was treated initially by osteotomy of the radius and ulna stabilised using a static external skeletal fixator. At a subsequent surgery len gthening of the limb was achieved by using an Ilizarov apparatus. Wors ening carpal hyperflexion was managed by bandaging in forced extension . A successful outcome was achieved with a final result of a 24 per ce nt discrepancy in length between the two radii at 17 months of age. An increase in length of the ipsilateral humerus was seen in association with the shortened forelimb.