Humeral Intracondylar Fissure in Dogs

Humeral intracondylar fissure (HIF) was first described as incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle. It is now known that the fissure is a stress fracture in some dogs. The descriptive term HIF is therefore preferred. In young dogs an incomplete ossification cause may still be valid. Symptomatic HIF is treated surgically with a transcondylar implant. The aim is to alleviate lameness and avoid condylar fracture. Choosing an appropriate surgical approach and implant can reduce complications. HIF is not always symptomatic and, in these cases, surgical management is more controversial, because a minority of such cases become lame or fracture.