Abstract
Purpose
B-mode sonographic evaluation of shoulder joint in dogs provides qualitative information concerning mainly tendon and muscles structures. Although the sonographic findings of tenomuscular lesions have been described previously, their frequency in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients has not been reported yet. Aim of the study was to describe and compare qualitative ultrasonographic findings of shoulder joint in clinically symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs and to speculate which lesions might be considered major responsible for lameness.
Methods
Fifty-two dogs with shoulder lameness and 58 asymptomatic dogs (both with unremarkable radiographic findings) underwent ultrasonographic B-mode examination of the scapulohumeral joint. Lesions detected were recorded and statistically compared between groups.
Results
Significant differences between groups were observed for the number of ultrasonographic abnormalities detected and for fluid accumulation, biceps brachii tendon (BT) lesions and bone surface irregularities. Sonography was considered useful for the determination of lesions absence and for the detection of BT lesions, fluid accumulation, muscle lacerations and bone surface irregularities. The odds for symptomatic dogs were greater than for asymptomatic patients to ultrasonographically diagnose BT lesions, fluid accumulation and bone surface irregularities.
Conclusions
Ultrasound has proven to be a useful tool in the evaluation of tenomusculoskeletal structures of shoulder in dogs with unremarkable radiographic findings. Our results suggest that ultrasonography is useful in the diagnosis of tendon abnormalities, fluid accumulation, muscle lacerations and bone surface irregularities as potential contributors to shoulder lameness in dogs.
Sommario
Scopo
L’ecografia B-mode permette la valutazione qualitativa delle strutture tenomuscolari della spalla del cane. Sebbene le alterazioni ecografiche riscontrabili siano già state descritte, la loro frequenza nei soggetti sintomatici ed asintomatici non è ancora stata valutata. Scopo del lavoro è stato descrivere e comparare i riscontri ecografici a carico dell’articolazione della spalla in cani clinicamente sani e cani con zoppia per verificare se esistano alterazioni correlabili alla presenza di sintomatologia.
Metodi
Cinquantadue cani con zoppia di spalla e 58 cani asintomatici sono stati sottoposti ad ecografia dell’articolazione scapolo-omerale. Le alterazioni ecografiche osservate nei due gruppi sono state statisticamente confrontate.
Risultati
Sono state riscontrate differenze statisticamente significative tra i gruppi per quanto riguarda il numero di alterazioni osservate, per l’accumulo di fluido sinoviale, per le lesioni del tendine bicipite brachiale e per la presenza di irregolarità della superficie ossea. L’ecografia è risultata utile per definire l’assenza di alterazioni, per identificare le lesioni del tendine bicipite brachiale, lacerazioni muscolari, la presenza di un accumulo di fluido sinoviale ed irregolarità della superficie ossea. Per i cani sintomatici si è riscontrata una maggior probabilità di identificare lesioni del tendine bicipite brachiale ed aumento del liquido sinoviale.
Conclusioni
L’ecografia si è dimostrata utile nella valutazione delle strutture tenomuscolari dell’articolazione scapolo-omerale di cani con normali studi radiografici della spalla. I nostri risultati suggeriscono che l’esame ecografico è in grado di caratterizzare alterazioni patologiche del tendine bicipite brachiale, irregolarità ossee ed accumulo di fluido sinoviale che rappresentano le condizioni patologiche più frequenti in cani sintomatici.
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All the described animal-related procedures were conducted according to the Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of September 22nd 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes (Art. 1, Par. 1, letter “b”) and the Italian legislation (D. Lgs. N. 26/2014, Art. 2, Par. 1, letter “b”), which does not require any approval by the competent Authorities.
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Barella, G., Lodi, M. & Faverzani, S. Ultrasonographic findings of shoulder teno-muscular structures in symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs. J Ultrasound 21, 145–152 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-017-0271-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-017-0271-4