Re: Dropped hocks; weak hind legs

[Guest guest]

Felicity,

It sounds like what you are describing is

a gracilis contracture/myopathy. Gracilis contraction/myopathy occurs

most often in adult German shepherds and related crossbreeds, typically with an

active, working lifestyle. The cause is suspected to be repeated strain

injuries. Clinical signs are progressive but tend to plateau after

several months. Dogs present with a “classic” gait in which a

distinct snap is noted in the hind limb during the swing phase which caused

internal rotation of the stifle and hock. Gracilis contracture internally

rotates the leg during the stifle extension, shortens stride, and causes a

characteristic jerky gait. Palpation reveals a gracilis that is distinct

from surrounding muscle because of its firmness. Pain may be elicited by

palpation in the early stages. On palpation the gracilis muscle typically

tight (anywhere from the point of origin at the pelvis to the insertion at the calcaneous).

The gracilis muscle will not usually allow for a stretch (hip flexion with

stifle extension).

..

These can be extremely challenging and

frustrating to treat. Due to the high population of police/working dogs

in our region we unfortunately see many of these. The owners/officers are

informed that this condition will truly never resolve but we can maintain their

dogs so they can continue to work. Rehabilitation therapy (manual

therapy, ultrasound therapy, tons of stretching, and strengthening techniques) seems

to improve their comfort and ROM.

Surgery (release) will resolve the condition immediately and then it will recur

within months (every time). I have been forced (literally) to take a few

of these to surgery and despite intense post-op rehab they all recurred. Prevention

is the key!!! Those of you working with police/working dogs are

encouraged to teach/inform the owners/handlers how to maintain the gracilis (stretching,

strengthening, etc).

We have honestly never placed a gracilis

contracture/myopathy in an UWTM but I would be interested to see if others have?

Cheers,

Sherman

Sherman O. Canapp Jr.,

DVM, MS

Diplomate ACVS

Veterinary

Orthopedic &

Sports

Medicine Group

10270

Baltimore National Pike

Ellicott City, MD

21042

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.vosm.org

From: VetRehab [mailto:VetRehab ] On Behalf Of feluche75

Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 8:33

PM

To: VetRehab

Subject: Dropped hocks;

weak hind legs

I saw the sweetest! 2yr old MN German Shepherd who was

recently adopted

by his owner. He previously had bilateral elbow dysplasia and had

surgery for FCPs in 2/07. He had been overweight and his fosters put

him on a strict diet (unknown) and he was caged a lot. Consequently,

he was given back to the breeder very thin and walking with dropped

hocks. His hocks " flip " out when he walks as well and he has severe

muscle atrophy. His new owner says he has improved greatly since she

has had him and he is now walking for 30 min BID. He has no neuro

deficits, orthopedic exam reveals bilateral joint laxity of hocks, and

rads of all hind joints are wnl. I introduced him to the UWT and he

did great. I am wondering if I should try to hold his hocks in somehow

while he is walking on the treadmill???? Any ideas on how I would do

this besides holding them myself? Has anyone used bands for this

purpose? Thanks so much!

felicity talbot

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[Guest guest]

Felicity,

It sounds like what you are describing is a gracilis

contracture/myopathy. Gracilis contraction/myopathy occurs most

often in adult German shepherds and related crossbreeds, typically

with an active, working lifestyle. The cause is suspected to be

repeated strain injuries. Clinical signs are progressive but tend to

plateau after several months. Dogs present with a " classic " gait in

which a distinct snap is noted in the hind limb during the swing

phase which caused internal rotation of the stifle and hock. Gracilis

contracture internally rotates the leg during the stifle extension,

shortens stride, and causes a characteristic jerky gait. Palpation

reveals a gracilis that is distinct from surrounding muscle because

of its firmness. Pain may be elicited by palpation in the early

stages. On palpation the gracilis muscle typically tight (anywhere

from the point of origin at the pelvis to the insertion at the

calcaneous). The gracilis muscle will not usually allow for a

stretch (hip flexion with stifle extension).

..

These can be extremely challenging and frustrating to treat. Due to

the high population of police/working dogs in our region we

unfortunately see many of these. The owners/officers are informed

that this condition will truly never resolve but we can maintain

their dogs so they can continue to work. Rehabilitation therapy

(manual therapy, ultrasound therapy, tons of stretching, and

strengthening techniques) seems to improve their comfort and ROM.

Surgery (release) will resolve the condition immediately and then it

will recur within months (every time). I have been forced

(literally) to take a few of these to surgery and despite intense

post-op rehab they all recurred. Prevention is the key!!! Those of

you working with police/working dogs are encouraged to teach/inform

the owners/handlers how to maintain the gracilis (stretching,

strengthening, etc).

We have honestly never placed a gracilis contracture/myopathy in an

UWTM but I would be interested to see if others have?

Cheers,

Sherman

Sherman O. Canapp Jr., DVM, MS

Diplomate ACVS

Veterinary Orthopedic &

Sports Medicine Group

10270 Baltimore National Pike

Ellicott City, MD 21042

Phone:

Fax:

http://www.vosm.org

>

> Felicity,

>

> It sounds like what you are describing is a gracilis

contracture/myopathy.

> Gracilis contraction/myopathy occurs most often in adult German

shepherds

> and related crossbreeds, typically with an active, working

lifestyle. The

> cause is suspected to be repeated strain injuries. Clinical signs

are

> progressive but tend to plateau after several months. Dogs present

with a

> " classic " gait in which a distinct snap is noted in the hind limb

during the

> swing phase which caused internal rotation of the stifle and hock.

Gracilis

> contracture internally rotates the leg during the stifle extension,

shortens

> stride, and causes a characteristic jerky gait. Palpation reveals a

> gracilis that is distinct from surrounding muscle because of its

firmness.

> Pain may be elicited by palpation in the early stages. On

palpation the

> gracilis muscle typically tight (anywhere from the point of origin

at the

> pelvis to the insertion at the calcaneous). The gracilis muscle

will not

> usually allow for a stretch (hip flexion with stifle extension).

>

> .

>

> These can be extremely challenging and frustrating to treat. Due

to the

> high population of police/working dogs in our region we

unfortunately see

> many of these. The owners/officers are informed that this

condition will

> truly never resolve but we can maintain their dogs so they can

continue to

> work. Rehabilitation therapy (manual therapy, ultrasound therapy,

tons of

> stretching, and strengthening techniques) seems to improve their

comfort and

> ROM. Surgery (release) will resolve the condition immediately and

then it

> will recur within months (every time). I have been forced

(literally) to

> take a few of these to surgery and despite intense post-op rehab

they all

> recurred. Prevention is the key!!! Those of you working with

> police/working dogs are encouraged to teach/inform the

owners/handlers how

> to maintain the gracilis (stretching, strengthening, etc).

>

>

>

> We have honestly never placed a gracilis contracture/myopathy in an

UWTM but

> I would be interested to see if others have?

>

>

>

> Cheers,

>

>

>

> Sherman

>

>

>

> Sherman O. Canapp Jr., DVM, MS

>

> Diplomate ACVS

>

>

>

> Veterinary Orthopedic &

>

> Sports Medicine Group

>

>

>

> 10270 Baltimore National Pike

>

> Ellicott City, MD 21042

>

> Phone:

>

> Fax:

>

>

>

> HYPERLINK " http://www.vosm.org/ "

>

> http://www.vosm.org

>

> _____

>

> From: VetRehab [mailto:VetRehab ] On

Behalf

> Of feluche75

> Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 8:33 PM

> To: VetRehab

> Subject: Dropped hocks; weak hind legs

>

>

>

> I saw the sweetest! 2yr old MN German Shepherd who was recently

adopted

> by his owner. He previously had bilateral elbow dysplasia and had

> surgery for FCPs in 2/07. He had been overweight and his fosters

put

> him on a strict diet (unknown) and he was caged a lot.

Consequently,

> he was given back to the breeder very thin and walking with dropped

> hocks. His hocks " flip " out when he walks as well and he has severe

> muscle atrophy. His new owner says he has improved greatly since

she

> has had him and he is now walking for 30 min BID. He has no neuro

> deficits, orthopedic exam reveals bilateral joint laxity of hocks,

and

> rads of all hind joints are wnl. I introduced him to the UWT and he

> did great. I am wondering if I should try to hold his hocks in

somehow

> while he is walking on the treadmill???-? Any ideas on how I would

do

> this besides holding them myself? Has anyone used bands for this

> purpose? Thanks so much!

> felicity talbot

>

>

>

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG.

> Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.9/1583 - Release Date:

7/31/2008

> 6:17 AM

>

>

>

> No virus found in this outgoing message.

> Checked by AVG.

> Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.9/1583 - Release Date:

7/31/2008

> 6:17 AM

>