Cadi is a young working Springer Spaniel who’s owners started to notice intermittent lameness affecting both the left and the right thoracic limbs. Plain radiographs were taken at Cadi’s referring practice, but these images didn’t reveal the cause of the lameness. Cadi was referred for a CT scan which showed she had bilateral Humeral Intracondylar Fissures (HIF), a condition most commonly seen in Spaniels, particularly Springer Spaniels.
The aetiology of this condition remains unclear, although it is thought that HIF lesions are stress fractures, rather than a developmental abnormality, as was previously thought. If left untreated, HIF lesions can predispose patients to fractures of the humeral condyle, or even complicated Y fractures of the distal humerus. Stabilisation of the HIF lesion with a transcondylar screw reduces lameness and the possibility of a fracture affecting this region.
From Cadi’s CT scan, we were able to work with Fusion Implants www.fusionimplants.com to plan the optimal position of the transcondylar screws and prepare custom 3D printed drill guides to enable the screws to be placed accurately.
Cadi has made an excellent recovery post-operatively and is very much looking forward to returning to work in the next shooting season!
Radiographs of the left limb (pre and post operative)
Radiographs of the right limb (pre and post operative)
CT images planning the position of the 3D printed custom drill guide for placing the transcondylar screws.