Ultrasonographic and anatomic study of the canine elbow joint

To (1) assess the canine elbow joint using a high frequency transducer (18 MHz); (2) describe the echogenicity and echo texture of the joint; and (3) correlate the ultrasonographic images with transparent plastinated anatomic sections.

Descriptive study.

German Shepherd cross-breed dogs (cadavers, n = 10; live dogs, n = 5).

Elbow joints of 10 adult German Shepherd cross-breed dog cadavers were examined by ultrasonography and then 5 cadavers were selected for use in an anatomic study, in which 2 mm thick sections were obtained in the same planes as in the ultrasonographic protocol. Sections were plastinated using the E-12 plastination method and correlated to the corresponding ultrasonographic images. The elbow joints of 5 German Shepherd adult dogs were assessed by ultrasonography for comparison with cadaver images.

Good correspondence of soft tissue and bone structures was obtained between ultrasound images and anatomic sections. There was no difference in the ultrasonographic appearance of elbows of cadavers and live dogs in which the muscular, ligamentous, and bone components of the joints were evaluated.

This study presents a descriptive comparison of anatomic and ultrasonographic images, which will offer clinicians a more comprehensive understanding of the anatomic structures of the canine elbow joint and serve as reference for further imaging diagnostic studies because of the precise correspondence between anatomic plastinated sections and ultrasonographic images.