Humeral intracondylar fissures and intracondylar sclerosis are common CT findings in the limb contralateral to a humeral condylar fracture in French bulldogs and spaniel breeds

Amy Davenport, Dylan Clements, Sumari Dancer

Background: Humeral condylar fractures (HCF) are common in dogs, especially in French bulldogs (FBD) and spaniel breeds. The role of humeral intracondylar fissures (HIF) and other elbow pathology in predisposing these breeds to HCF is unclear.

Study: A retrospective, single-center, observational study that compared the signalment, fracture configuration, fracture etiology, and computed tomographic (CT) findings of FBD and spaniel breeds presenting with HCF at a single hospital.

Methods: Data were collected from the electronic database of the hospital for all dogs with a diagnosis of HCF between November 2016 and March 2022. CT images of the contralateral elbows of FBD and spaniel breeds were reviewed by two observers for the presence of HIF, intracondylar sclerosis, and other elbow pathology. The angle and width of the HIF were measured and compared between the breed groups using a Mann–Whitney U test.

Results: Eighty dogs were referred to the hospital for HCF, of which 39 were spaniels and 32 were FBD. FBD presented at a younger age (median 3.7 months) than spaniels (median 45 months). Lateral condylar fractures were the most common configuration for both breed groups. Minimal or no known trauma was the most common fracture etiology. HIF and intracondylar sclerosis were commonly identified in the contralateral elbows of FBD (44% and 50%, respectively) and spaniel breeds (58% and 95%, respectively). No concurrent elbow pathology was noted in FBD, while spaniels had medial coronoid process disease, joint incongruency, and osteophytes in some cases. The range of the angle of the HIF through the condyle was significantly greater in FBD than in spaniels. The width of the HIF on the dorsal plane was significantly wider in FBD than in spaniels.

Limitations: The study is retrospective in nature with small case numbers and lacks a comparator group with a similar age range. The assessment of bone sclerosis is inherently subjective and therefore different observers may have interpreted the presence or absence of sclerosis differently.

Conclusions: The study reaffirms previous reports that immature FBD are predisposed to HCF. Lateral condylar fractures remained the most prevalent fracture configuration for both breed groups. Humeral intracondylar fissures and intracondylar sclerosis were commonly identified in the intact limb of FBD presenting with HCF, suggesting that HIF should be considered as a contributing predisposing factor to HCF in this breed

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