Ultrasonographic evaluation of the canine shoulder

• Published in: Veterinary radiology & ultrasound 1999-07, Vol.40 (4), p.372-379
• Main Authors: Long, C.D, Nyland, T.G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal anatomy; Animals; biceps tendon; Body Constitution; Bursa, Synovial - anatomy & histology; Bursa, Synovial - diagnostic imaging; calcification; calcifying tendinopathy; Calcinosis - diagnostic imaging; Calcinosis - veterinary; Dissection - veterinary; dog; Dog Diseases - diagnostic imaging; dogs; Dogs - anatomy & histology; Female; Humerus - anatomy & histology; Humerus - diagnostic imaging; infraspinatous tendon; lameness; Lameness, Animal - diagnostic imaging; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology; Muscle, Skeletal - diagnostic imaging; Muscular Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Muscular Diseases - veterinary; musculoskeletal; normal values; Radiography; Rotator Cuff - anatomy & histology; Rotator Cuff - diagnostic imaging; shoulder; Shoulder Joint - anatomy & histology; Shoulder Joint - diagnostic imaging; shoulders; Sprains and Strains - diagnostic imaging; Sprains and Strains - veterinary; supraspinatous tendon; Synovial Fluid - diagnostic imaging; Synovial Membrane - diagnostic imaging; Tendinopathy - diagnostic imaging; Tendinopathy - veterinary; tendons; Tendons - anatomy & histology; Tendons - diagnostic imaging; tenosynovitis; Ultrasonography; ultrasound
• ISSN: 1058-8183; 1740-8261
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.1999.tb02129.x

The aim of this study was to determine the normal ultrasonographic anatomy of the canine shoulder. Fourteen shoulders from 7 clinically normal mid‐sized dogs were radiographed and imaged using high frequency ultrasound. Each shoulder was isolated postmortem, and the ultrasonographic and gross anatomy was studied during dissection. The ultrasonographic appearance of the shoulder specimens was similar to that found in the live dogs. Twenty‐four shoulders isolated postmortem from 12 variably sized dogs were also used to characterize the normal ultrasound anatomy over a range of sizes. Important anatomic structures that could be consistently evaluated were the biceps tendon and bursa, the bicipital groove surface, the supraspinatous tendon, the infraspinatous tendon, the teres minor tendon, and the caudal aspect of the humeral head. Results of ultrasonographic examination of 4 dogs with shoulder lameness are described to illustrate some applications of canine shoulder ultrasonography in the evaluation of the canine shoulder. In these dogs, ultrasound was a valuable tool to evaluate effusion and synovial proliferation within the bicipital bursa, supraspinatous and biceps tendinitis, biceps tendon strain, and dystrophic calcification.