Case Study

ORTHO – Normal ultrasound of the shoulder musculature and tendons in a 5 year old FS Wire-haired Pointing Griffon with lameness

This 5 year old FS Wireharied Pointing Griffon dog presented with Grade I/V right thoracic limb lameness in the exam room; video provided by owners revealed a grade III-IV/V lameness. Intermittent lameness since 2014. Off weights the right thoracic limb while standing. All joints of the thoracic limbs had normal range of motion and no detectable effusion. Mild muscle atrophy over the right shoulder. Demonstrated comfortable range of motion of her neck.

DX

The ultrasonographic examination of the shoulder musculature and tendons is within normal limits

Image Interpretation

Ultrasound of the shoulders – Left and right shoulder: The muscular portions of the biceps, supra- and infraspinatus are well delineated and regular for echogenicity and echotexture.
The distal insertion tendon of the supraspinatus muscle is even in outline and presents no echoarchitectural abnormality. No biceps impingement is noted.
The bone surface of the major tubercle is even and smooth.
The outline of the left biceps tendon is regular proximal to the and within the intertubercular groove. The tendon fibers are uniformly hyperechoic and reveal a linear pattern. There is no tendon sheath effusion. The wall of the tendon sheath is not seen. The bone surface of the intertubercular groove is even and smooth.
The tendon and insertion of the infraspinatus are within normal limits.
There is no shoulder joint effusion. As far as seen the periarticular margins of the shoulder joint present no abnormality.

Outcome

Pathology of the biceps, supra- and infraspinatus can be ruled out as underlying cause of the lameness. Consider shoulder joint instability, elbow pathology, neurological (cervical spine or peripheral nerves) disease or other as possible origin of the lameness.