RAD – Acute unspecific effusion of the stifle in a 9 week old F Labrador Retriever

Case Study

RAD – Acute unspecific effusion of the stifle in a 9 week old F Labrador Retriever

This 9 week old F Labrador Retriever presented with acute lameness left hind, stifle swollen.

Image Interpretation

Left pelvic limb: The stifle joint presents marked enlargement of the articular soft tissue opacity in all compartments of the joint. The patella and the infrapatellar fat pad are pushed cranially by the large articular soft tissue opacity. There is marked caudal displacement of the caudal fascial planes. The popliteal lymph node is seen and within normal limits for size, shape and opacity.

DX

Unspecific marked articular enlargement of the left stifle joint compatible with effusion

Outcome

Differential diagnoses include traumatic hemarthros, idiopathic juvenile non-erosive
immune mediated arthropathy (usually more than one joint affected), and early
hematogenous infectious arthritis. Tick-borne arthritis is rare in puppies.
Clinical screening for effusion of other joints is advised to rule out polyarthritis as well
as aspiration of synovia for cytology and culture from the left stifle.