Medial coronoid process disease in the course of elbow dysplasia in dogs

Background: Medial coronoid process disease is one of the four primary causes of elbow dysplasia. Among common imaging techniques used to diagnose elbow dysplasia, X-ray examination and computed tomography are the most popular. The aim of the dissertation was to determine the incidence of medial coronoid process disease in dogs and to compare the diagnostic usefulness of computed tomography and X-ray examination in determining this primary cause of elbow dysplasia. Material and methods: The research was conducted on 58 dogs, including 36 German Shepherds, 13 Labrador Retrievers, and 9 Golden Retrievers, of both sexes (28 males and 30 females), aged 3 to 15 months. All the dogs underwent X-ray examination and computed tomography. Results: Based on X-ray examination, elbow dysplasia with a visible primary cause was diagnosed in 38 dogs, with medial coronoid process disease found in 20 cases. Medial coronoid process disease ulna was diagnosed in 12 German Shepherds, 3 Golden Retrievers and 5 Labrador Retrievers. Computed tomography of the elbow joints revealed dysplasia in 52 dogs, including medial coronoid process disease diagnosed in 44 cases. Medial coronoid process disease was diagnosed in 29 German Shepherds, 4 Golden Retrievers and 11 Labrador Retrievers. Comparing the results of X-ray examination with the results of computed tomography in dogs, a statistically significant difference was shown between the two diagnostic methods in diagnosing medial coronoid process disease (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Based on this research, it was determined that medial coronoid process disease occurs much more frequently than osteochondritis dissecans of the medial condyle of the humerus or ununited anconeal process of the ulna, and is only slightly more frequent than incongruity. Fragmentation was the most commonly observed abnormality of the medial coronoid process. Moreover, computed tomography proved its diagnostic superiority over X-ray examination in detecting medial coronoid process disease in dogs.