OFA Elbow Registry

The purposes of the registry are: to provide a standardized evaluation of elbow joints for canine elbow dysplasia, whether due to ununited anconeal process, fragmented coronoid process, osteochontrosis, or any combination there of; and to serve as a data base for control of elbow dysplasia through selective breeding.

What is elbow dysplasia?

Elbow dysplasia was originally described as a developmental disease manifested as degenerative joint disease of the elbow with or without an ununited anconeal process. Erroneously, the term elbow dysplasia became synonymous with ununited anconeal process thus causing the confusion that exists among some veterinarians and breeders.

Developmental degenerative joint disease of the elbow has multiple inherited etiologies which may occur singularly or in combination (ununited anconeal process, fragmented medial coronoid process, or osteochondritis of the medial humeral condyle).

Method of Diagnosis

Proper evaluation of this region requires the elbow be positioned in extreme flexion and good radiographic technique be used. If a specific etiology is sought additional views are suggested.

The purpose of the registry is to identify phenotypically normal dogs and screen elbow radiographs for signs of early degenerative joint disease. The earliest and most consistent secondary change is a smooth periosteal reac- tion on the proximal anconeal process and/or joint incongruity.

Normal elbows on individuals 24 months or older are assigned a breed registry number and will periodically be reported to the parent breed club.

Abnormal findings are reported only to the owner of record and referring veterinarian.

Abnormal elbows are reported as:

1. Grade I--minimal bone change on the anconeal process.
2. Grade II-additional subchondral bone changes and/or osteophytes.
3. Grade III-well developed degenerative joint disease.

How prevalent is elbow dysplasia? 12/95

Individuals representing 138 breeds have been evaluated by OFA and elbow dysplasia has been found in 63 of these breeds.

Breeds in which at least 50 individuals have been evaluated as of December 31, 1995 are listed in the adjoining table and are classified by percent dysplastic and grade of elbow dysplasia.

% Grade Dysplasia
Breed                Total  %Dyspl.    I       II      III

Akita                 191   1.6        66.7            33.3
Australian Shepherd    51   3.9        50      50
Belgian Sheepdog      121   6.6        62.5    25      12.5
Belgian Tervuren      272   3.3        66.7    33.3
Bernese Mtn Dog      1281  28.4        61.5    23.4    15.1
Bloodhound             90  20.0        55.6    16.7    27.8
Bouvier Des Flandes   143   3.5        80      20
Brittany Spaniel       83   1.2       100
Bullmastiff           226  17.3        66.7    20.5    12.8
Chesapeake Bay Ret    104   1.9        50              50
Chinese Shar Pei       63  27          29.4    41.2    29.4
Chow Chow              78  50          48.7    25.6    25.6
Doberman Pinscher     188   1.6        66.7            33.3
English Setter        199  13.1        65.4    30.8     3.8
English Springer Sp    78  20.5        75      18.8     6.3
Flat Coated Retriever  75  
German Shepherd      6529  20.4        67.4    21.7    10.9
German Shorthaired Pt  79  
Golden Retriever      904   9.7        73.9    18.2     8.0
Gordon Setter          77   6.5        60      20      20
Great Dane             66   3.0       100
Greater Swiss Mtn      75  13.3        90      10
Labrador Retriever   3196  11.3        66.3    23.2    10.5
Leonburger            120   4.2       100
Mastiff               379  14.8        57.1    26.8    16.1
Newfoundland          421  32.5        47.4    26.3    26.3
Portugese Water Dog   191   1.6        66.7    33.3
Rhodesian Ridgeback   112   3.6        75      25
Rottweiler           2575  41.1        72.2    23.1     4.6
Samoyed               118   1.7       100

How prevalent is elbow dysplasia? 12/94

Individuals representing 124 breeds have been evaluated by OFA and elbow dysplasia has been found in 54 of these breeds.

Breeds in which at least 75 individuals have been evaluated as of December 31, 1994 are listed in the adjoining table and are classified by sex, percent dysplastic, and grade of elbow dysplasia.

% Grade Dysplasia
Breed                Sex  Total  %Dyspl.    I       II      III

Akita                 F      84
                      M      59      3.4     50.0            50.0
Belgian Tervuren      F     101      3.0    100.0
                      M     102      5.9     50.0    50.0
Bernese Mtn. Dog      F     589     28.5     68.5    19.6    11.9
                      M     385     29.1     53.6    25.9    20.5
Bouvier Des Flandres  F      58      6.9     75.0    25.0
                      M      39
Bloodhound            F      50     20.0     50.0    20.0    30.0
                      M      25     28.0     57.1    14.3    28.6
Bullmastiff           F      89     12.4     63.6    27.3     9.1
                      M      75     21.3     75.0     6.3    18.8
Doberman Pinscher     F      78      2.6     50.0            50.0
                      M      61      1.6    100.0
German Shepherd Dog   F    2940     18.2     68.7    22.0     9.3
                      M    2156     23.9     67.2    20.9    11.8
Golden Retriever      F     376      8.8     81.8    15.2     3.0
                      M     250     10.8     77.8    11.1    11.1
Labrador Retriever    F    1398     10.4     71.9    19.9     8.2
                      M     801     15.2     59.0    25.4    15.6
Leonberger            F      54      3.7    100.0
                      M      40      7.5    100.0
Mastiff               F     140     15.0     66.7    23.8     9.5
                      M      94     21.3     60.0    25.0    15.0
Newfoundland          F     169     27.2     52.2    21.7    26.1
                      M     120     39.2     44.7    27.7    27.7
Portugese Water Dog   F      81      1.2    100.0
                      M      59
Rottweiler            F    1042     38.1     74.6    22.2     3.3
                      M     890     47.9     70.2    24.4     5.4
Samoyed               F      52      3.8    100.0
                      M      45

REFERENCES

• G.A. Padgett et al: The Inheritance of Osteochondritis Dissecans and Fragmented Coronoid Process of the Elbow Joint in Labrador Retrievers. JAAHA Accepted for Publication Nov 7 1994.
• C.R. Berry: Evaluation of the Canine Elbow for Fragmented Medial Coronoid Process. Vet. Rad. & U.S. Vol. 33, No. 6 Nov/Dec 1992 p. 273-276.
• A.P. Wind: Elbow Incongruity and Developmental Elbow Diseases in the Dog Parts I & II. JAAHA 1986 Vol. 22 Nov/Dec p. 71 1-730.
• J.L. Berzon, C.B. Quick: Fragmented Coronoid Process Anatomical, Clinical, and Radiographic Considerations with Case Analysis. JAAHA 1980 Vol. 16 March/April p. 241-25 1.
• G.M. Robins: Some Aspects of the Radiographical Examination of the Canine Elbow Joint. J. Sm.- An. Pract. 1980 (21) p. 417-428.
• E.A. Corley et al: Genetic Aspects of Canine Elbow Dysplasia. JAVMA 1968 Vol. 153 No. 5 p. 543- 547.

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
2300 E. Nifong Blvd.,  Columbia, MO 65201-3856
Tel. (314) 442-0418    Fax (314) 875-5073

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Gheorghe M. Constantinescu, D.V.M., Ph.D., Associale Professor and medical illustrator in the Department of Anatomy, for the artful depiction of the bones of the elbow.