Case 17: Arthrotomy medial left elbow
‘Keira', GSD, Female(ent) 27/04/06
Headley Down, Bordon,Hants.
21/12/06; Presented at surgery, lame LEFT fore approx 2 weeks, loss of muscle, given injection of NSAID Rimadyl ( carprofen).
22/12/06; Sedate to x-ray L & R elbows, flexed and extended, Revealed bilateral FCP (fragmented coronoid process, and sclerosis of joints) Surgery advised.
Onto Rimadyl oral 50 mg BID.
03/01/07 ; GA, Arthrotomy medial LEFT elbow, FCP removed & medial lip of ulna trimmed, no evidence of OCD. Inj Rimadyl & Ceporex, & hospitalised.
04/01/07 ; Touching foot to floor! Inj Rimadyl & Ceporex, discharged, with oral rimadyl 50mg bid, & ceporex 500mg 1bid. Owner instructed 10 minutes straight line lead exercise 3 x daily.
10/01/07 ; Check up, AOK! 75%
16 /01/07 ; Sutures out 90%
| DATE | SESSION NUMBER |
SPEED (k/h) |
DURATION (MINUTES) |
NOTES |
| 17/01/07 | 1 | 3.8 | 3 | Gradually over 5 minutes up to 3.8k/h, held for 3 minutes, then gradual reduce, total 12 minutes. Very steady, full weight bearing, very slight toeing out towards end, very very bright. |
| 18/01/07 | 2 | 4.0 | 10 | No toeing out/lameness Right radius/ulna mid shaft = 5.4cm Left radius/ulna mid shaft = 4.0 cm |
| 19/01/07 | 3 | 4.0 4.2 |
5 5 |
Owner reported no lameness at all, off rimadyl, Keira very keen to do more! (Licked wound slightly, Viatop gel bid, and buster collar when left alone). |
| 22/01/07 | 4 | 4.2 4.4 |
5 5 |
|
| 23/01/07 | 5 | 4.2 4.4 4.6 |
4 6 1 |
|
| 24/01/07 | 6 | 4.2 4.4 4.6 |
3 7 3 |
Fantastic! No lameness, or toeing out. |
| 25/01/07 | 7 | 4.6 4.4 4.2 |
6 4 2 |
|
| 26/01/07 | 8 | 4.6 4.4 4.2 |
6 4 2 |
Right radius/ulna mid shaft = 5.5cm (was 5.4cm) Left radius/ulna mid shaft = 5.0cm (was 4.0cm) |
| 29/01/07 | 9 | 4.6 4.4 4.2 |
7 4 1 |
|
| 30/0/07 | 10 | 4.6 4.4 |
6 6 |
01/02/07 ; GA Arthrotomy medial Right elbow, FCP removed, no evidence OCD. Inj Rimadyl, & Ceporex, hospitalised. 02/02/07 ; Walking almost normally! No pain shown. Inj Rimadyl & Ceporex. Discharged, Ceporex 500mg 1 BID. 05/02/07 ; Check up, doing very well, further Ceporex 500mg 1 BID slight seroma. |
| 08/02/07 | 11 | 4.0 4.2 |
6 4 |
No toeing out either leg, no lameness! |
| 08/02/07 | 12 | 4.2 4.4 |
7 4 |
Fantastic! Foot placement is perfect on left & right, full range of movement equal in both elbows. |
| 12/02/07 | 13 | 4.2 4.4 4.6 |
3 7 2 |
|
| 14/02/07 | 14 | 4.4 4.6 4.4 |
7 3 2 |
|
| 16/02/07 | 15 | 4.2 4.4 4.6 |
3 7 3 |
Right radius/ulna mid shaft = 5.5cm (was 5.4cm) Left radius/ulna mid shaft = 6.0 cm (was 4.0cm then 5.0cm). |
| 19/02/07 | 16 | 4.2 6.2 4.4 4.2 |
3 3 (trotting) 3 3 |
|
| 21/02/07 | 17 | 4.2 6.6 4.2 |
3 4 (trotting) 3 |
Sign off rehab as doing so well advise owner 20 - 30 minutes exercise 2 x daily plus off lead exercise. Re-ex if any problems.
14/03/07; Follow up check, Keira appears to be fully recovered from her surgeries, and is now exercised off lead with another dog, she has had no lame episodes.
I believe that the use of the treadmill as her rehabilitation , speeded up, and improved the recovery for which the owner is very grateful, as they have a dog that can lead a normal life without limitations.