Abstract
Most cases with osteochondrosis of the joints have been treated conservatively, however, joint incongruity and cartilage lesion may result in arthritis and progression of degenerative joint disease. Three giant breed dogs with marked foreleg lameness were diagnosed as osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the elbow and shoulder joints by the clinical signs, radiography and computed tomography. Fragments of OCD lesions in the elbow were removed by arthrotomy without tenotomy and myotomy through the medial approach. Patients recovered the normal walk from the next day of operation. In another case with shoulder OCD, the dorsocaudal humeral head was exposed and the cartilage flap was removed, resueting in the defect with a size of 5mm in diameter. The dog required a month for recovering normal walk. Early identification of OCD and less invasive surgical procedures may lead good recovery of joint function.
