Bilateral paraxial hemimelia of the radius and humeral polymelia in a canine

Abstract

The objective of this work is to present the clinical case of a canine with congenital malformations and to propose treatment alternatives. A three-month-old female Labrador puppy with bilateral paraxial longitudinal hemimelia of the radius and humeral polymelia, congenital anomalies rarely reported in canines was treated at the School Hospital of the Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, National University of Río Cuarto. X-rays revealed the partial absence of bones and the presence of joint deformities in the elbow and carpal regions. The diagnosis allowed the evaluation of possible treatments with immobilizing bandages or surgical alignment alternatives through trauma surgery or, in extreme cases, amputation of the affected limbs to improve the normal movement of the patient. In conclusion, skeletal alterations are very variable. When a congenital malformation of the limbs is diagnosed, as in this case, it is important to promote knowledge of the anomalies and their classification, which establishes a precise diagnosis, through the description of the clinical and radiological finding. This process is crucial for the treatment and monitoring of the patient, as it provides the veterinarian with early alternatives for surgical resolution.