Long-term outcomes and complications of titanium transcondylar screw placement to address humeral intracondylar fissures in Spaniel breed dogs.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the outcome and complications of titanium transcondylar screws to treat humeral intracondylar fissures in Spaniel breed dogs.

ANIMALS: 39 dogs (55 elbows). Medical records (2013 to 2021) of dogs treated for humeral intracondylar fissure were reviewed. Dogs presenting with a humeral fracture on the same side or contralateral side were excluded. Collected data included signalment, lameness score, investigations, surgical technique, and complications. Long-term outcomes were assessed via an owner questionnaire, orthopedic examination, measurement of elbow goniometry, and pressure plate gait analysis. Statistical analysis was performed to identify risk factors that predisposed to complications.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Only Spaniel breed dogs treated via a mediolateral approach with a cortical 4.5-mm titanium transcondylar screw were included.

RESULTS

There were no intraoperative complications. Short-term minor complications consisted only of seroma formation (29%). Major complications (30%) included surgical site infection (25%) and revision surgery (11%). Long-term major complications (3.6%) were 1 humeral condylar fracture and 1 implant failure, both on the same dog. Dogs with concurrent medial coronoid disease were more likely to develop a seroma. Elbows with seroma were more likely to develop an infection, with an OR of 1.705 (95% CI, 0.394 to 3.015). The long-term outcome was acceptable for most of the dogs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The complication rate of titanium transcondylar screws was comparable to that previously reported for stainless steel implants. The outcome was acceptable to full function for all dogs. A significant correlation was found between medial coronoid disease and seroma.