Case of the month: 6 months-old Labrador Retriever with front limb lameness after getting up

 
Case of the month

Labrador Retriever "Jamie", male, 6 months, shows a front limb lameness since about 10 days, especially after getting up. Unfortunately, in the clinical examination it is unclear which leg causes the lameness, probably it is left sided.

Further work-up included, radiographs of the shoulder joint bilaterally.

The following changes are seen on the x-ray records:

Flattening of the caudal humeral head LEFT with a mild indentation of the subchondral bone and surrounding mild sclerosis.

The remaining bones a bilaterally according to the age of the animal within normal limits. Normal surrounding soft tissues.

The radiographic diagnosis is:

Osteochondrosis (OC) caudal humeral head LEFT.

Additional information:

The term OCD (osteochondrosis dissecans) should only be used when a mineralized piece of cartilage ("joint mouse") can be delineated. Until then, the term OC or osteochondrosis is more accurate.

Regarding a radiographically suspicious shoulder joint, it may be advantageous to take an additional, mediolateral image with supination, as described in literature:

Callahan, T.F. and Ackerman, N. (1985), THE SUPINATED MEDIOLATERAL RADIOGRAPH FOR DETECTION OF HUMERAL HEAD OSTEOCHONDROSIS IN THE DOG.     
Veterinary Radiology, 26: 144-148.

doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.1985.tb01400.x

Many thanks to Dr. ECVDI Florian Willmitzer for this case report!