Medial coronoid process (MCP) disease is one component of a global pathological condition most commonly termed elbow dysplasia (ED). Although most dog owners are familiar with hip dysplasia, awareness of elbow dysplasia is probably less widespread. One of the most important differences in our ability to manage hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia is the difference in the availability of an effective salvage option in the event of intractable pain and lameness. Total hip replacement (THR) has an excellent reputation but at this time total elbow replacement (TER) does not produce results that are equivalent to those of THR. Thus, non-surgical management of immature dogs with hip dysplasia is considered a reasonable approach, with an option of THR as an adult if clinical signs persist. In contrast, if an immature dog with ED develops clinically important secondary OA as an adult, it can be very difficult to successfully manage the secondary OA. This scenario may prompt clinicians to be more proactive intheir approach to ED in immature dogs. Like hip dysplasia, ED is a heritable condition whose expression can be influenced by environmental triggers. Thus, there are three stages in which veterinary intervention can affect the clinical impact of ED. These are (1) prevention of phenotypic expression in dogs carrying the genotype for ED, (2) prevention of clinical signs in dogs with phenotypic ED, and (3) amelioration of clinical signs in dogs with OA secondary to ED.
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