Physeal Injuries and Angular Limb Deformities.

Physeal injuries are common in the developing small animal and can result in growth disturbances of the forelimb. Resulting deformities can include limb shortening, joint incongruity, angulation, and alterations in joint loading with subsequent osteoarthritis, remodeling, and debilitation. Because of the unique paired bone configuration, the antebrachium is the main source for malalignment resulting from physeal disturbance in the forelimb. Successful correction of deformities requires in-depth understanding of normal physeal activity; careful consideration of patient signalment; and the ability to quantify the location, magnitude, and plane of the deformity or deformities.