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Treatment of shoulder joint luxation with glenoid ostectomy in a miniature donkey.
Abstract: A 13-year-old 128-kg miniature donkey gelding was evaluated for right forelimb lameness of 7 weeks' duration. Muscular atrophy of the infraspinatus and supraspinatus muscles over the right scapula with a palpable bony prominence over the point of the shoulder was evident. At the walk, the cranial phase of the stride was reduced with adduction of the distal aspect of the limb, dragging of the toe, and lameness (grade, 4/5). Lateral and craniocaudal radiographs of the right shoulder joint revealed lateral luxation of the humerus in relation to the scapula with bony proliferation and remodeling of the humeral head. Glenoid ostectomy was performed. Immediately after surgery, the donkey was able to intermittently stand squarely on the limb but maintained a reduced cranial phase of the stride at the walk. The donkey had no short-term complications and was discharged from the hospital 11 days after surgery. Following discharge, the donkey was confined to a box stall for 60 days, followed by a gradual increase in movement to full pasture turnout. The lameness continued to improve, and at 15 months after surgery the donkey was turned out in pasture and had mild lameness (grade, 3/5) at the trot. Mild muscular atrophy of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles was present with no signs of pain on palpation or manipulation of the limb. Shoulder joint radiography at 15 months after surgery revealed remodeling of the glenoid cavity of the scapula and humeral head with formation of a pseudoarthrosis. Glenoid ostectomy should be considered as an alternative to shoulder joint arthrodesis in small equids with shoulder joint luxation. Other indications for this procedure could include chronic osteoarthritis or fractures affecting the shoulder joint.
Publication Date: 2021-10-15 PubMed ID: 34647476DOI: 10.2460/javma.259.9.1043Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Case Reports
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research is about the treatment option of glenoid ostectomy (a surgical procedure to remove the glenoid cavity of the shoulder) for a miniature donkey suffering from luxation or dislocation of the should joint. This approach could serve as an alternative for shoulder joint arthrodesis in small equids, and might be applicable for chronic osteoarthritis or fractures affecting the shoulder joint.
Details of the Case
- The case studied was a 13-year-old miniature donkey suffering from right forelimb lameness for seven weeks. This lameness was assessed with a grade of 4/5, showing significant impairment.
- Physical examination of the donkey revealed muscle atrophy over the right shoulder and a noticeable bony prominence over the shoulder point.
- Lateral and craniocaudal radiographs confirmed a lateral luxation of the humerus relative to the scapula, along with bony proliferation and remodeling of the humeral head.
Treatment and Recovery
- The donkey underwent a glenoid ostectomy procedure.
- Post-surgery, the donkey showed immediate improvement in standing on the affected limb, though it continued to exhibit a decreased cranial phase of stride when walking.
- The donkey was discharged 11 days after surgery with no short-term complications.
- A two-month stall confinement followed by gradually increased movement led to continued improvement in the donkey’s condition.
Long-Term Outcome
- At the 15-month post-surgery mark, the donkey demonstrated mild lameness (grade, 3/5) at trot, indicating a slight improvement in movement and functionality of the limb.
- Radiography at this time showed remodeling of the glenoid cavity of the scapula and humeral head, with formation of a pseudoarthrosis (a false joint where there has been no structural union).
- The donkey exhibited mild muscular atrophy of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles but exhibited no signs of pain during palpation or manipulation of the limb.
Implications
- This case study demonstrates that glenoid ostectomy could be a viable alternative to shoulder joint arthrodesis in small equids with shoulder joint luxation.
- The procedure may also be considered for cases of chronic osteoarthritis or fractures that affect the shoulder joint.
Cite This Article
APA
Skelton JA, Hawkins JF, Rochat MC.
(2021).
Treatment of shoulder joint luxation with glenoid ostectomy in a miniature donkey.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 259(9), 1043-1046.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.259.9.1043 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthrodesis / veterinary
- Equidae
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Male
- Scapula / diagnostic imaging
- Scapula / surgery
- Shoulder Dislocation / surgery
- Shoulder Dislocation / veterinary
- Shoulder Joint
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Hankins KL, Reed SK, Ida KK, Watkins JP, White SA. Case report: Scapulohumeral arthrodesis in a reindeer. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1270471.
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