Legend's bad leg

[The MZA]

My female 15 month old rottie has had problems with her right front leg. After a second and third opinion the vets concur that the radius in Legend's right leg has grown to long and caused a deformity. The vets also agree that the proper way to correct this problem is to cut a "wedge" out of the radius, simialr to a slice of pizza, and place a pin in the bone and pull the bone back together. Has anyone else heard of or experienced this problem? Any idea of recovery time? Will she be "good as new"? Will she have arthritis in the leg at a later age? Any info on this subject would be appreciated.

[Nancy Estes]

If this is what your vet is diagnosing, it doesn't sound like arthritis is necessarily a result (get out your medical dictionary):

Merck Veterinary Manual, Eighth Edition: "Angular Deformity of the Forelimb (Radial and ulnar dysplasia) - Abnormal development of the radius and ulna can occur secondary to distal physeal injury . . . . Asynchronous growth of the two bones leads to shortened limbs, cranial bowing of the bones, elbow joint subluxation, and valgus or varus deformities in the carpus. . . . Clinical signs include lameness and reduced painful motion in the elbow or carpal joints. . . . Treatment is based on correcting angulation and length of the limb, and reestablishing joint congruity. . . . Prognosis is good for animals without severe limb deformations."

Nancy

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