Bilateral distal fibular growth abnormalities in a dog

A 6-month-old Shetland Sheepdog was examined because of a valgus deformity of the left hind limb. Six weeks earlier, the dog had developed a fracture of the distal portion of the right fibula, which was successfully treated by use of external coaptation. Radiography revealed valgus deformity centered at the left distal tibial and fibular physes. Radiographically, the left fibula was 1.5 cm shorter than the left tibia, and the right fibula was 1.3 cm shorter than the right tibia. A distal tibial closing wedge ostectomy was performed to correct the left hind limb angular deformity. The angular deformity was believed to have developed because of abnormal growth of the left distal fibular physis. It is likely, considering the displacement of the right fibular head, that the dog also had premature closure of its right distal fibular physis. The fracture of the right fibula may have prevented development of an angular deformity of the right hind limb.