Clinical history A 5 months old female Great Dane Dog presented with acute lameness in the left shoulder - no history of trauma was known. Lateral radiographs were made of the affected limb plus a comparison study of the opposite limb. What is the radiographic diagnosis? Lateral radiographs (L + R) Enlargement of the affected limb - (L) Radiographic diagnosis Affected limb - left Avulsion fracture of the supraglenoid process with absence of any reactive bony (callus) indicating an acute injury Osteochondrosis lesion in the caudal aspect of the humeral head - note the sclerosis around the lesion Delayed development of the caudal aspect of the glenoid cavity adjacent to the suspect osteochondrosis Unaffected limb - right Study of the opposite limb is radiographically normal at this time Post operative study Comments The caudocranial view (seen to the right) usually fails to provide additional information in a patient with a fracture of this type or with an OCD lesion - the fracture fragment can be faintly seen. The osteochondrosis lesion is minimal and should be considered one that will probably heal spontaneously - additional radiographs can be made at 6-8 months of age - at that time the humeral head will (1) appear normal or (2) will demonstrate a definite defect in the articular cartilage and subchondral bone that can be diagnosed as an osteochondrosis or (3) it may appear as an osteochondrosis dissecans with a free cartilaginous fragment.
