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Objective—To determine whether carpal brace application is a viable treatment for dogs with unilateral carpal ligament instability. Design—Retrospective case series. Animals—14 client-owned athletic dogs. Procedures—Medical records were reviewed to identify dogs treated with a brace for unilateral carpal valgus or varus instability between August 2008 and August 2011. Treatment included passive motion and isometric strengthening exercises during brace application. Results—Of the 14 dogs, 11 were considered to have returned to normal function; 11 of 12 dogs returned to agility competition. Carpal measurements before treatment indicated the affected limb had significantly greater valgus measurements (median, 30°; range, 30° to 35°), significantly greater varus measurements (median, 15°; range, 15° to 25°), and significantly less flexion (median, 37.5°; range, 30° to 45°), compared with results for the contralateral carpus. Long-term monitoring revealed no differences in measurements between affected and contralateral limbs. Valgus measurements of the affected carpus at brace removal (median, 15°; range, 15° to 20°) and at the end of long-term monitoring (median, 15°; range, 15° to 20°) were significantly lower than measurements before treatment (median, 30°; range, 30° to 35°). Dogs had significantly lower lameness scores (assessed on a scale of 0 to 5) at brace removal (median, 0; range, 0) and at the end of monitoring (median, 0; range, 0 to 2), compared with scores before treatment (median, 3; range, 1 to 3). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Application of a carpal brace resulted in improved stability and resolution or reduction in lameness in dogs with carpal ligament instability.

Summary Reasons for performing study: The relationship of conformation to future potential injury is a standard approach in practise but, at present, is largely based on subjective observations. Objective: To measure conformation in 3-year-old Thoroughbreds and objectively test its relationship with the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems. Methods: Conformation measurements were taken from photographs using specific reference points marked on the horses and processed on the computer. Clinical observations were recorded for each horse on a regular basis. Stepwise (forward) logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between the binary response of the clinical outcomes probability and the conformation variables by the method of maximum likelihood. Results: Clinical outcomes significantly (P

Summary Reasons for performing study: There is little information available about conformational changes in the forelimbs of growing foals. Objectives: To describe the conformation of the carpus and fetlock of Thoroughbred foals from birth to yearling sale age. Methods: Subjective assessments of the fetlock and carpal conformation of 119 Thoroughbred foals were made within the first month of life and then at 30 day intervals until at least age 120 days. At least 70 subjects were examined further at 60 day intervals until September of their second year. Conformation grades are reported for 5 age groups: first 7 days and at a mean of 46, 176, 362 and 525 days. The conformation of all available sires and dams of subjects was also graded. Results: All subjects demonstrated carpal deviations, such as valgus, outward rotation and offset, and approximately 30% had fetlock deviations. Heavier birth weights were associated with carpal offset and fetlock inward conformation at most ages, and heavier yearlings were more likely to be carpal valgus. The carpal conformation of the sire (offset and outward rotation) was associated with similar yearling carpal conformation. During the study period, the carpal conformation of Thoroughbred foals became less valgus and more offset. Fetlock conformation became more inwardly deviated during the first 6 months of the study. Conclusions: Carpal and fetlock conformation change greatly in Thoroughbred foals up to age 18 months. The phenotype of the sire can be associated with yearling carpal conformation and bodyweight, particularly at birth and as yearlings, is associated with yearling fetlock and carpal conformation. Potential relevance: New factors associated with forelimb conformational deviations have been identified that may help breeders better to manage young racing stock.

The aim of this study was to report the outcome of acute antebrachial angular and rotational limb deformity (AARLD) correction using a standard radial ostectomy, an unarticulated type 1b external skeletal fixator (ESF) and intra-operative alignment with no pre-operative planning.A retrospective evaluation was performed of dogs with carpal valgus, radial procurvatum and rotational deformity of the forelimb. All 39 cases presented and were treated surgically at a referral hospital in Melbourne, Australia, between September 2008 and March 2012. Surgical correction involved a standard closing cuneiform radial ostectomy, distal ulnar ostectomy and application of an unarticulated type 1b ESF. The method used intra-operative limb alignment and did not use pre-operative planning. Outcome was assessed via client phone interviews in all cases. Five cases were evaluated post-operatively using centre of rotation and angulation (CORA) methodology.As reported by owners of the 39 cases following surgery, limb function was excellent in 26 (67%), good in 12 (31%) cases and acceptable in one (2.5%) case. Frame tolerance was reported as good in 24 (62%), acceptable in 14 (36%) cases and poor in one (2.5%) case. Limb appearance was reported as straight in 25 (64%) cases and mildly rotated in 14 (36%) cases. In five cases that were evaluated, post-operative frontal and sagittal plane alignment ranged from 0-3.1° and 9.1-12.2°, respectively, and distal CORA was corrected to6.1°. These were within the normal reported reference ranges. Pin tract infections were reported in seven (18%) cases CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELVANCE: This study suggests that the described technique may be an effective practice for the correction of AARLD that provides good clinical results, based on client assessment. The effectiveness of this technique was further supported by the five cases that underwent objective radiographic assessment. The technique is simpler than techniques that use extensive pre-operative planning, uses a smaller inventory and is easily applicable in companion animal practice.

Objective—To evaluate the effect of hemi-circumferential periosteal transection and elevation (HCPTE) in foals with experimentally induced angular limb deformities.Design—Prospective study.Animals—10 healthy foals.Procedure—When foals were 30 days old, transphyseal bridge implants were placed on the lateral aspects of both distal radial physes. At 90 days of age (or when 15 degrees of angulation had developed), implants were removed, and HCPTE was performed on 1 limb. Foals were confined in small pens after surgery; the front feet of the foals were rasped weekly to maintain medial-to-lateral hoof wall balance. Dorsopalmar radiographic projections of the carpi were obtained before HCPTE and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 48 weeks later.Results—At the time of transphyseal bridge removal and HCPTE, both treated and control limbs were observed to have a significantly greater carpal valgus, compared with the initial degree of angulation at 30 days of age. Following HCPTE or sham surgery, all limbs straightened over the subsequent 2 months of the study. Median angulation was not significantly different between treated and control limbs at any time during the study.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that in foals with experimentally induced limb deformities, HCPTE was no more effective than stall confinement and hoof trimming alone for correction of the deformity. (J Am Vet Med Assoc2002;221:536–540)

Two alpaca crias and one 14-month-old alpaca were referred for treatment of bilateral carpal valgus. In one cria, hemi-circumferential periosteal transection and elevation combined with an ulna osteotomy was performed initially without success, however transphyseal bridging with screws and wires was used successfully in both crias to straighten the limbs. As the distal radial and ulna growth plates had closed in the 14-month-old alpaca, bilateral wedge ostectomies of the distal radius and transfixation casts were used to straighten and stabilise the limbs. The ostectomy sites healed and the alpaca is ambulatory, although carpal flexion is significantly reduced. Until the relationship between the growth rate of crias and the success of hemicircumferential periosteal transection and elevation and ulna osteotomy is established, transphyseal bridging may provide a more reliable result in crias with carpal valgus deformity and open physes. Wedge ostectomy and application of a transfixation cast can be used to correct severe carpal valgus deformities in alpacas with closed physes.

Radial dome osteotomy and external coaptation were used to correct forelimb growth deformities with carpal valgus angles of 15 to 43 degrees in 11 dogs (12 forelimbs). Osteotomy sites were clinically healed by week 4. Appearance and function in 10 limbs was good to excellent. The angular deformity recurred in one dog by week 4 due to partial closure of the distal radial growth plate. Carpal valgus recurred in one dog by week 2 because the ulnar osteotomy healed before radial growth ceased.