Lower body weight and increasing age are significant risk factors for complications following bi-oblique proximal ulnar osteotomy in dogs.

OBJECTIVE

To report and evaluate the risk factors for complications following bi-oblique proximal ulnar osteotomy (PUO) in dogs.

ANIMALS

82 client-owned dogs (93 limbs).

METHODS

Clinical records of dogs treated with bi-oblique PUO over a 5-year period were reviewed. Postoperative radiographs were analyzed, and osteotomy location and angles were recorded; follow-up radiographs were reviewed to assess the degree of osteotomy healing. Complications were classified as minor, major, and catastrophic. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate possible associations between the predictor variables and occurrence of complications.

RESULTS

82 dogs (93 limbs) were included. Postoperative complications were documented in 39 limbs (13 major and 26 minor). The most common major complication was osteotomy nonunion (8 limbs), while the most common minor complication was delayed union (21 limbs). Statistical analysis revealed that lower body weight (P = .01) and older age (P = .04) were significantly associated with the development of postoperative complications.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

In this study, lighter and older dogs were more likely to develop complications following bi-oblique proximal ulnar osteotomy. We did not identify an association between osteotomy angle and location on complication rate. Careful patient selection is therefore required to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications after bi-oblique PUO.