Canine Elbow Dysplasia: Ununited Anconeal Process, Osteochondritis Dissecans, and Medial Coronoid Process Disease

Elbow dysplasia is a major cause of front limb lameness in medium to large dog breeds. Underlying causes include ununited anconeal process, medial coronoid process disease, and osteochondritis dissecans. When a definitive diagnosis of elbow dysplasia is made, the surgeon can improve elbow function but cannot entirely prevent progression of osteoarthrosis. Conventional surgical treatment with joint debridement and removal of loose osteocartilaginous bodies is not rewarding if joint incongruity persists; the result is overloading and subchondral bone exposure with erosion of the cartilage of the medial humeral condyle and medial coronoid area of the ulna leading to medial compartment disease.