humeral intercondylar fracture in an 18 wk old pug

[Guest guest]

Hi to all,

Bella presented to me after surgical consultation judged that surgery was not an option.

She is an 18 wk old pug who sustained an unknown injury to her left front leg sometime before 9/2/10. Radiographs on 9/11 revealed a lateral condylar fracture involving the articular surface, with the fragment displaced somewhat proximolaterally and rotated clockwise.

The surgeon feels(and I don't disagree) that disrupting the fibrous callus to try to get fixation of such a small fragment would be counterproductive.

Unfortunately, when her owner presented her to me and I asked her what her expectations were, she was quite certain the surgeon said rehab would fix her dog. I think she's hearing what she wants to hear.

Anyway, I started her on PROM TID and walking in the bathtub daily. I offered laser, ultrasound to warm tissues before ROM exercises, UWTM, NMES for triceps, massage for the rest of her.

I did sound pretty grim about any long term success and said my goal was to preserve ROM and muscle mass as long as possible, but that the elbow would almost certainly result in a chronic painful joint.

Any ideas that I have missed?

Thanks,

Meryl Lessinger,VMD, CVA, CCRT

burg, VA