Fragmentation of the medial coronoid process of the ulna in dogs: A study of 109 cases

The results of a combined retrospective and prospective study of 130 cases of fragmented coronoid process (FCP) in 109 dogs are presented. Sixty‐eight cases were treated surgically by medial elbow arthrotomy and 62 were treated medically (rest and anti‐inflammatories). Case records were searched with the emphasis on the severity of lameness, physical abnormalities and in surgical cases, the appearance of the coronoid process lesion. Long term follow‐up was obtained by a telephone survey. Analysis of case histories and physical data revealed no correlation between severity of lameness before treatment, severity of radiographic changes in the elbow joint and the type of lesion found at surgery. Surgical treatment did not decrease the incidence of post treatment lameness, but the surgically treated dogs were more active and less severely lame than those treated without surgery. It was concluded that young dogs with mild lameness due to FCP in the elbow probably do not benefit from surgical treatment but dogs with chronic, moderate to severe lameness have a better prognosis if treated surgically.