Arthrosis in the elbow joint of young rapidly growing dogs. IV. Ununited anconeal process. A follow up investigation of operated dogs.

During a 5 year period ununited anconeal process was diagnosed in 37 dogs. Thirty one of these were German Shepherd Dogs and the ratio male:female was about equal. Thirty-four of the dogs (44 joints) were surgically treated by removal of the process. When judged by the owners of 28 dogs 3 months to 5 years postoperatively, average time interval being 30.6 +/- 16.6 months, 46.4% were assessed to be free from lameness, 35.7% were occasionally lame and 17.9% were constantly lame or euthanized because of lameness. Sixteen of the dogs (23 joints) were clinically and radiographically re-examined by the authors. Except for 3 of the dogs which were judged to be free from lameness, the dogs were more or less stiff or lame when examined. The degree of arthrosis had increased from the time of surgery until re-examination and tended to be more pronounced according to increase in time interval.