Management of antebrachial deformity and shortening secondary to a synostosis in a dog.

A nine-week-old labrador was presented with a deformed left forelimb causing obvious lameness. Radiographs suggested that the dog had suffered a fracture involving the radius and ulna which had healed resulting in a synostosis. There was a concurrent radial physeal injury. The dog was treated initially by osteotomy of the radius and ulna stabilised using a static external skeletal fixator. At a subsequent surgery lengthening of the limb was achieved by using an Ilizarov apparatus. Worsening carpal hyperflexion was managed by bandaging in forced extension. A successful outcome was achieved with a final result of a 24 per cent discrepancy in length between the two radii at 17 months of age. An increase in length of the ipsilateral humerus was seen in association with the shortened forelimb.