Equis ISSN 2398-2977
Elbow joint: disease - overview
Synonym(s): Antebrachiohumeral joint disease, cubital joint disease
Contributor(s): Stephen Adams, Graham Munroe
Introduction
- The elbow is an uncommon site for forelimb lameness.
- Cause: direct trauma is the most common cause.
- Signs: usually sudden onset, moderate to severe, forelimb lameness.
- Diagnosis: clinical examination and range of ancillary aids including joint anesthesia Forelimb: joint anesthesia and radiography Forelimb: radiography .
- Treatment: depends on cause.
- Prognosis: depends on cause.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
Trauma
- Most common cause of acquired elbow conditions.
- Fractures: of the olecranon of the ulna are one of the most commonly seen long bone fractures Ulna: fracture ; also seen proximal radius Radius: fracture . Articular fractures may be comminuted, open, closed, distracted, non-distracted.
- Luxation/subluxation of the elbow joint is uncommon: usually seen with fractures of the olecranon or proximal radius, or separation of the radius and ulna.
- Tearing of collateral ligaments: uncommon; lateral more commonly involved.
- Tearing of the attachments of the biceps brachii muscle from the cranioproximal aspect of the radius.
- Traumatic synovitis and capsulitis occur following single or repeated episodes of trauma to the elbow joint. It may progress to degenerative joint disease Musculoskeletal: osteoarthritis (joint disease) .
- Subchondral bone stress of the distal humerus in young jumping animals.
- Olecranon bursitis (capped elbow, shoe boil) Elbow: hygroma .
- Hematoma Hematoma .
- Pressure sores
.
Infectious
Multifactorial
Immune-mediated
Miscellaneous
- Tumors are extremely rare.
- Osseous cyst-like lesions of the elbow joint are uncommon
, typically communicate with the joint, and occur most commonly in the medial proximal radial epiphysis or the distal medial condyle of the humerus Bone: osseous cyst-like lesions .
Predisposing factors
General
- Septic conditions:
- Elbow fractures:
- Little soft tissue cover to joint.
Pathophysiology
- The elbow joint is the articulation between the humerus, radius and ulna, stabilized by medial and lateral collateral ligaments.
- The joint capsule forms a pouch in the olecranon fossa where it is extremely thin.
- Oblique fibers strengthen the joint capsule cranially.
- The joint capsule blends with the collateral ligaments medially and laterally.
- There is minimal soft tissue cover over the lateral aspect of the elbow joint making it vulnerable to trauma and penetration.
- See Joint: synovial pathobiology Joint: synovial pathobiology .
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Livesey L, Schumacher J, Sartin E, Caldwell M, Ziska S & Brock K (2009) Ruptured capsule of the elbow joint of a draught horse. Equine Vet J 41 (6), 371-374 VetMedResource.
Other sources of information
- Dyson S J (2003) The Elbow, Brachium, and Shoulder. In: Diagnosis & Management of Lameness in the Horse. Eds: Ross M W & Dyson S J. Saunders, USA. pp 399-405.
- Stashak T S (2002) The Elbow. In: Adams Lameness in Horses. 5th edn. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore. pp 879-894.