• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2005

A 6year-old intact male hound cross dog, weighing 23 kg, was presented to the Teaching Animal Hospital, Chonbuk National University with the history of gunshot wound at the left elbow joint. Survey radiographs of the affected elbow revealed the presence of a metallic bullet caudal to the olecranon processes and comminuted fracture of the proximal radius and ulna. The first treatment strategy included removal of the bullet and fixation of the radius and ulna using separate bone plates, bone screw, K-wire and surgical wire, was failed. The second treatment strategy included olecranon osteotomy and rigid immobilization of the elbow joint with a bone plate applied to the caudal aspect of the humerus and ulna along with autogenous bone grafts collected from the 13th rib. The optimal angle of the joint following arthrodesis of this case appeared to be 130°. This resulted in improving the case but after 60 weeks the plate was bent and there was exudation from the wound. The third treatment strategy was the same with the second except for that the bone autografts were collected from the proximal metaphyses of the ipsilateral humerus. This resulted in a successful arthrodesis 6 weeks after the surgery. Elbow arthrodesis with bone autograft resulted in acceptable function, but abnormal gait remained in the dog due to mechanical interference with the movement of the joint.