Arthrosis in the elbow joint of young rapidly growing dogs. VI. Interrelation between clinical, radiographical and pathoanatomical findings.

In 106 dogs in which one, two or more of the lesions A: Fragmentation of the coronoid process, B: Fissure of the coronoid process, C: Osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral condyle, or D: Ununited anconeal process, were found at autopsy, comparisons were made between clinical, radiographical and pathoanatomical findings. The 38 dogs which were put to death because of persistent lameness, represented young dogs of larger breeds only, while dogs of which no prehistory regarding foreleg lameness was given, or which had never revealed foreleg lameness, were older and represented dogs of smaller breeds as well. The lesion A was the most predominant finding, and the incidence of lesions A and A + C was slightly higher among lame legs than among legs free from lameness. Routine radiography was a reliable tool in interpreting osteochondritis dissecans, ununited anconeal process and degree of osteophyte formation when compared to the pathoanatomical examination, while lesions of the coronoid process was infrequently diagnosed by routine radiography. When comparing the various observations made clinically, radiographically and patho-anatomically, statistically significant correlations were found between all the parameters exept decreased flexibility/supination, decreased flexibility/pain and pain/arthrosis. The degree of arthrosis was higher in joints descending from lame legs than in joints descending from legs free from lameness, but was relatively high even in the latter group. The reasons why some dogs get lame in contrast to others suffering from the same lesions, are discussed.