Elbow

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Arthroscopy of the canine elbow joint provides an un-paralleled view of the articular surface and intra-articular structures in this complex joint. Arthroscopy has many uses including treatment of septic arthritis, incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle and as an adjunctive technique to fixation of humeral condylar fractures. By far the most common use for elbow arthroscopy is in patients with elbow dysplasia. Dysplastic elbows can be quickly and efficiently assessed for arthritis and cartilage damage, joint congruity, and other abnormalities including OCD lesions (osteochondritis dissecans – image 4), medial coronoid disease, and ununited anconeal processes. The major advantage to arthroscopic exploration of the elbow joint is the ability to perform a procedure that is both diagnostic and therapeutic while observing minimally invasive principles to minimize morbidity.

Elbow Arthroscopy

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Image 1 illustrates some mild synovitis in the region of the medial coronoid process, this is indicative of very early onset medial coronoid disease and a patient that may benefit from an arthroscopic Biceps Ulnar Release Procedure (BURP).
Image 2 however shows an elbow affected by medial coronoid disease that has progressed to a fragmented medial coronoid process (FCP) and concurrent abrasion of the cartilage contacting the lesion on the humeral condyle.
Image 2 however shows an elbow affected by medial coronoid disease that has progressed to a fragmented medial coronoid process (FCP) and concurrent abrasion of the cartilage contacting the lesion on the humeral condyle.
Image 2 however shows an elbow affected by medial coronoid disease that has progressed to a fragmented medial coronoid process (FCP) and concurrent abrasion of the cartilage contacting the lesion on the humeral condyle.

Video 1 is an arthroscopic explore from a 7 month old German Shepherd dog with an Ununited Anconeal Process, this can be seen as the loose fragment that that moves on flexion/extension of the joint, and can be compared to the normal arthroscopic appearance of the anconeal process in Image 3.