Synthetic osteochondral resurfacing for treatment of large caudocentral osteochondritis dissecans lesions of the humeral head in 24 dogs.

OBJECTIVE

To report the outcome of dogs with large, caudocentral, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions of the humeral head treated with synthetic osteochondral resurfacing (SOR) implants.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

ANIMALS: Twenty-four client-owned large breed or giant dogs.

METHODS

The medical records of all dogs treated with first generation (G1) and second generation (G2) SOR implants were reviewed. All dogs were assessed with clinical examination and imaging 12 weeks after surgery. Assessment of outcome was based on subjective assessment of lameness, scoring of postoperative radiographs, and the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) questionnaire.

RESULTS

Osteochondral resurfacing was performed with a G1 implant in 13 dogs (15 shoulders) and a G2 implant in 11 dogs (13 shoulders). Lameness resolved in all dogs treated with G1 implants and in 10 dogs treated with G2 implants by 12 weeks after surgery. One dog treated with a G2 implant was found to have an implant-associated infection, requiring implant removal. No recurrence of lameness was reported in 9 limbs treated with G1 implants and 10 limbs treated with G2 implants that were available for clinical review at a median time of 387 and 365 days, respectively, after surgery. Mean postoperative LOAD scores were 4.2 of 52 and 5.2 of 52 in dogs treated with a G1 or a G2 implant, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Synthetic resurfacing was technically feasible in all joints of this study and resulted in good clinical results.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of SOR implants seems viable to treat large caudocentral OCD lesions of the humeral head in dogs and warrants prospective comparison with conventional arthroscopic treatment.