Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of the Radius-Ulna- Humerus Joint in Police Dogs in the City of Concepción, Chile

Objective: To assess the elbow joint in police dogs through a clinical orthopedic exam and a radiological exam. Fifteen dogs were studied (13 males and 2 females) between the ages of 3 and 10 that perform police work in Concepción, Chile. Method: Individuals were subjected to a general and orthopedic physical examination focused on the elbow joint, and then a radiological study was carried out, in which both elbows were assessed through 4 projections including an extended medial lateral (ML), craniocaudal (CrCa), medial lateral flexed at 45º (ML 45º flex) and craniolateral-caudomedial oblique (Cr15° LCdMO), in order to establish the appearance of osteoarticular disorders. Results: Only 2 dogs showed clinical signs (13.33 %) in which pain and crepitation were observed through palpation and manipulation of the joint; 8 individuals showed radiological signs (53.33 %). The most common signs were osteophytes (40 %), sclerosis (20 %), joint incongruity (20 %), unevenness between radius and ulna (20 %), absence of the medial coronoid process of the ulna (6.67 %) and unbound anconeus process (6.67 %). Conclusion: This study showed a low correlation between the presence of clinical signs and the presence of radiological signs (r: 0.327)