Dog Mixed breed female intact 6 months of age. Irregular walking gate. At the clinical examination, painful on the hips at palpation, more on the right side was diagnosed. Radiograph of the pelvis was taken. Radiographic examination Ventrodorsal view of the pelvis. Radiographic findings
- There is a severe bilateral and almost symmetrical subluxation of the femoral heads (the center of the femoral heads lying lateral to the dorsolateral border of the acetabula).
- The acetabula are flatteneded with an incomplete covering of the femoral heads (arrows).
- There is an heterogenous opacity with irregular thickening of the of the subchondral bone of the acetabula (arrowheads).
- Additionaly, there is a focal increased opacity of the diaphysis of the right femur. There is decreased definition of the medulla and cortical junction secondary to mild heterogenous increased opacity of the medulla, centred on the mid-diaphysis (open arrow). In the distal diaphysis the medial and the lateral cortical border is mildy irregular.
Radiographic diagnosis
- Bilateral severe hip displasia.
- Panosteitis of the right femur.
Close up of the dorsoventral view of the pelvis. Radiographic diagnosis Close up of the dorsoventral view of the right femur. Comments
- Panosteitis is a self-limiting disease that affects the long bones of primarily young large-breed dogs and is common in the German sheperd. Dogs between 5 and 12 months of age are most often affected. Histologically, bone marrows undergoes excessive osteoblastic activity.
- The distribution can be solitary, multifocal in a single bone or poliostotic.
- The radiograhic signs depend from the stage of the disease.
- Early in the disease, there is a blurring and accentuation of trabecular bone
- Circumscribed nodular opacities form in the diaphysis of long bones, often near the nutrient foramina
- Medullary opacities become diffuse and homogenous; a smooth, continuous periosteal new bone may develop
- Late in the disease opacities resolve, leaving coarse, thickened trabecular bone that eventually assumes a normal appearance.
- Cortical thickening may be apparent as periosteal new bone remodels.
- In this case, was not clear if the clinical signs were due to the hip dysplasia or the panosteitis.
- Follow up was recommended.
