Endoscopy Brief: Identifying and treating an ununited accessory caudal glenoid ossification center

A 10-month-old 136-lb (62-kg) female Irish wolfhound was presented for evaluation of right forelimb lameness of four months' duration. The lameness varied in severity independent of activity level. The physical examination revealed mild forelimb lameness with no pain, crepitus, swelling, instability, or reduced range of motion in any forelimb joints. The differential diagnoses included all possible causes of forelimb lameness (e.g. panosteitis, bicipital tenosynovitis, elbow dysplasia). A radiographic examination of the forelimbs revealed a small, bone-opacity mass caudal to the caudal margin of the glenoid articular surface of the right shoulder (Figure 1); the right humoral head was normal.

Figure: 1

The patient was premedicated with acepromazine and glycopyrrolate, and anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with sevoflurane. The patient was placed in dorsal recumbency and was prepared and draped to allow access to both shoulders. Arthroscopy revealed that the left shoulder was normal. Arthroscopy of the right shoulder showed a normal humoral head and a loose ridge of cartilage and bone on the caudal margin of the glenoid articular surface (Figure 2). The loose fragment of bone and cartilage was removed with an arthroscopic shaver (Figure 3). Complete removal was achieved (Figure 4).

Figure: 2

Recovery was uneventful. The patient was released from the hospital the day of the procedure and was walking with less lameness than at the time of admission. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug was administered for 10 days, and the dog's activity was restricted for two weeks. Follow-up examinations at two weeks and at two years revealed no lameness, and no forelimb abnormalities were detected on physical examination.

Figure: 3

Incomplete ossification of the accessory caudal glenoid ossification center and failure to fuse with the glenoid articular surface is an uncommon condition causing lameness in large-breed dogs.1

Figure: 4

REFERENCE

1.

Olivieri M, Piras A, Vezzoni A, et al. Incomplete ossification of the caudal glenoid.

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol

2003;16:54-59.

"Endoscopy Brief" was contributed by Timothy C. McCarthy, DVM, PhD, DACVS, Surgical Specialty Clinic for Animals, 4525 S.W. 109th Ave., Beaverton, OR 97005.