Orthopedics

• Orthopaedic disease


  Disease of the musculo-skeletal system
• Orthopaedic disease


  • Affects bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments
• Traumatic injuries


  Injuries caused by external physical force
• Risk factors for traumatic injuries

  • Vehicles
  • Stock
  • Terrain
  • Fences
• Causes of 157 automotive trauma

  • Bike carriers
• Major causes of NON-traumatic musculoskeletal disease

  • Lumbosacral disease (Huntaways 25, heading 8)
  • Hip dysplasia (Huntaways 16, heading 9)
  • Toe infections (n=18)
• 189 (6.9%) working dogs died or were euthanised after injury
• Causes of dog loss

  • Stock
  • Hit by vehicle
  • Fell from vehicle
  • Fall
  • Jump off vehicle
  • Gunshot
  • Unknown
• Types of injuries


  • Bone fractures (open/closed)
  • Muscle laceration, rupture, bruising
  • Tendon laceration, ruptures, strain
  • Ligament laceration, ruptures, sprain
• Bone healing


  • Capable of regeneration, reforms complex tissues, can heal back to original strength
• Connective tissue healing (muscle, tendon, ligament)


  • Heal mainly by scarring, fibrous connective tissue, can compromise mobility and strength
• Sprain


  Injury to a ligament
• Strain


  Injury to a tendon
• Grades of sprains and strains


  • Minimal degree of tearing and bleeding
  • Some structural breakdown, partial tear
  • Complete rupture
• Tendon or ligament can "avulse" or pull off bone attachment
• Achilles mechanism in dogs

  • Made up of 5 muscles forming 3 separate tendons
• Surgical repair of Achilles mechanism tear

  1. Tendon sutured using bone tunnels and loops of nylon

  2. Leg supported for 6 weeks using screw to lock joint and cast
• Stifle (knee) joint


  • Diarthrodial (2 big bones) condylar joint (rounded)
  • Ligaments: collateral, cruciate, patellar
  • Menisci: medial & lateral
  • 4 sesamoids: patella, 2 x fabellae, popliteal m.
• Conservative management


  Rest, NSAID, weight management
• Dogs <15 kg, 85% acceptable outcome with conservative management
• Dogs >15 kg, only 20% do well conservatively
• CCLR (Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture) surgical treatments

  • Traditional - examine ligaments, open joint, stabilise with prosthesis or graft
  • Modern - dynamically stabilise stifle by changing bone orientation
• Factors affecting outcome


  • Decision to save dog versus replace
  • Degree of training/skill
  • Knowledge of farm
  • Use - working, trailing, breeding
  • Farm style (e.g. hilly or not)