Surgical management and follow-up of triceps tendon avulsion after repeated local infiltration of steroids: two cases.

Disruption of the triceps tendon insertion is an uncommon injury, with only a few reports of traumatic triceps tendon avulsion in dogs or cats present in the veterinary literature. Although this injury has been previously described in two dogs that had received a local injection of corticosteroids for the treatment of soft tissue injuries, reports with long term clinical follow-up and outcome in working dogs are lacking. This report describes two surgically treated cases of complete triceps tendon avulsion rupture in Malinois police dogs. These two dogs had a history of repeated local infiltration of a corticosteroid preparation used to treat adventitial bursitis. The clinical features, surgical treatment, long-term management and outcome are reported. A modified triple locking loop pattern was used to suture the tendons. The long-term outcome was considered excellent with both dogs resuming work. Although it is an uncommon condition in small animals, avulsion of the triceps tendon should remain on the differential diagnosis list for acute onset forelimb lameness, particularly if there is a history of local infiltration with corticosteroids. The diagnosis should be based on clinical, radiographic and ultrasonographic examination.