SURGICAL REMOVAL OF FRAGMENTED MEDIAL CORONOID PROCESS IN THE DOG - COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF SURGICAL APPROACH AND AGE AT TIME OF SURGERY

Long-term evaluation of 35 patients was performed average postoperativ e time, 43 +/- 6 months; range, 3 to 159 months) after fragmented medi al coronoid process (FCP) removal. Information was obtained from clien t-completed questionnaires, physical exam (n=20), and radiographic eva luation (n=20) in order to compare the effects of surgical approach me dial capsulotomy [CAP] vs. medial epicondylar osteotomy [OST]) and age at time of surgery (13 months or less vs. greater than 13 months) on limb function. With regard to surgical approach, no significant betwee n-group differences were found for gait function, range of motion, joi nt thickness, or joint pain. However, indices of forelimb muscle mass, assessed with antebrachial and brachial limb circumferences, were sig nificantly greater in the osteotomy-approached dogs. No significant di fferences were found for any parameter when dogs were compared with re gard to age at time of surgery. Although the percentage of all postope rative complications did not differ between groups, the percentage of complications requiring corrective surgery was significantly greater i n the OST group. The authors conclude that the surgical approach and t he age at time of surgery do not strongly affect long-term prognosis f or limb function after FCP removal in the dog, but the percentage of c omplications requiring reoperation may be higher in osteotomy-approach ed dogs.