Lateral condylar fracture in an English springer spaniel

Bobby is a 2 year old springer spaniel that presented acutely lame on his front right leg this week. He was in pain in his elbow and it felt unstable.

I was worried about a break as he was so lame and also springers are very prone to breaking their lateral condyle.

X rays confirmed a broken elbow (lateral condyle)

You cannot easily put a dogs leg in a cast as they fall off easily and with this type of fracture it is really important to reduce the fracture well and we had to use a mixture of screws and plates. This fracture involved the elbow joint itself so a degree of arthritis will be inevitable.

Surgery involved opening into the elbow and drilling a hole in the broken condyle from inside to out

It was then reduced back in place and a 4.5mm screw was drilled across the broken condyles and a plate and screws to reattach it back to the rest of the humerus.

The elbow is fixed in place with screws and plate.

X rays showing good internal fixation. Bobby will need to be kept strictly rested to give his bones time to heal and hopefully we will not need to take the implants out. Lucky dog!