canis - Articles
Radius: distal growth plate closure
Synonym(s): Distal radial growth plate closure
Introduction
- Lesser incidence relative to distal ulna growth plate closure Ulnar: distal plate closure.
- Cause: often unknown ?trauma, eg fall from a height.
- Symmetrical and asymmetrical growth plate closure occurs - damage to lateral side of plate most common.
- Signs: gradual onset weeks after initial injury: pain and lameness resulting from subluxation of elbow and degenerative joint disease (DJD) → long-term - deviation and deformity of limb.
- Treatment: surgical - to restore normal elbow joint congruity and lengthen radius.
- Prognosis: guarded - DJD a common sequela.
Presenting signs
- History of trauma, eg fall from height.
- Transient lameness followed by gradual onset of lameness some weeks later.
- Subluxation of elbow.
- Secondary DJD.
- Deviation and deformity of limb.
Acute presentation
- Transient forelimb lameness.
Age predisposition
- Immature animals.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Often unknown: ?trauma, eg fall from height.
Pathophysiology
- Symmetrical and asymmetrical growth plate closure occurs with damage to lateral side occurring more frequently.
- Abnormal radial growth with relative overgrowth of ulna leads to elbow subluxation.
- Often radial head misshapen (absence of normal pressures between radius and humerus - mould joint surfaces).
- Radius displacement often exposes coronoid process to abnormal loading forces from humeral condyles.
- Displacement of radial head from coronoid processes and radial notch leads to area filling-in with new bone.
- DJD a common sequela.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Preston C A (2000) Distraction osteogenesis to treat premature distal radial growth plate closure in a dog. Aust Vet J 78 (6), 387-391 PubMed.