Introduction

• Uncommon, usually medial or lateral.
• Cause: moderate to severe trauma.
• Signs: acute onset, severe (usually non-weightbearing) forelimb lameness, typical posture.
• Often reduces spontaneously on manipulation.
• Treatment: dependent on direction of luxation/concurrent injury/whether recurrent.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• Moderate to severe trauma: fall or knock, especially when dog turns at speed.

Predisposing factors

• Breed.

Specific

• Rupture of transverse humeral ligament - loss of cranial support allows cranial luxation.

Pathophysiology

• Generally lateral or medial luxation of scapulohumeral joint caused by moderate to severe trauma.

• Usually lateral or medial luxation caused by trauma to joint.
• Rarely cranial (may be associated with loss of cranial joint support with rupture of transverse humeral ligament) or caudal.
• Concurrent injuries always possible, eg fracture, brachial plexus involvement (especially lateral luxations).

Diagnosis

Treatment