Temporary joint immobilization using external skeletal fixation for recurrent medial shoulder luxation in a captive Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus)

Abstract

A captive male Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus) presented with medial shoulder luxation. The animal had previously undergone left hindlimb amputation following a traffic accident and exhibited severe dysfunction of the right hindlimb due to chronic medial patellar luxation (MPL), resulting in forelimb-dependent ambulation. Closed reduction was unsuccessful, so external skeletal fixation was applied to achieve stabilization through periarticular fibrosis. The animal resumed weight-bearing shortly after surgery, and the fixator was safely removed under light sedation six weeks later. This case highlights the effectiveness of external skeletal fixation as a minimally invasive treatment for shoulder luxation in raccoon dogs.