Key Points
+ Carpal hyerextension injury is due to tearing of the ligaments on the palm side of the wrist
+ Treatment involves fusion of the joint
+ Prognosis is generally good with surgical treatment
Initial visit- downloadable forms/information for clients:
History sheet - Client initial consultation history
Client education handout - carpal arthrodesis
Discharge instructions for postop care - dog
Discharge instructions for postop care - cat
2-week recheck visit - downloadable forms/information for clients:
History form - 2 week postop (Telemedicine evaluation) - dog and cat
Postop care instructions 2-week fracture repair recheck - cat
Postop care instructions 2-week fracture repair recheck - dog
8-week recheck visit - downloadable forms/information for clients:
History form 8-week fracture recheck (in hospital) - dog and cat
Postop care instructions 8 week fracture recheck - dog
Postop care instructions 8 week fracture recheck - cat
Downloadable forms for referring veterinarians:
Anatomy
The carpus of the dog and cat is similar to the wrist in man. It is made of seven small bones that form three joints. Normally, the top joint is very flexible, whereas the remaining joints have limited range of motion. The backside (palmar aspect) of the carpus is supported by a very strong ligamentous structure called the palmar fibrocartilage, which prevents the joints from over extending (hyperextension).
Cause of carpal hyperextension injury
The cause of a hyperextension injury is due to tearing of the palmar fibrocartilage. This type of injury can be due to a single isolated traumatic event such as jumping off a roof or out of a window. In other cases it is due to repeated injury to the palmar fibrocartilage due to jumping off a deck of out of vehicles. Once the palmar fibrocartilage tears, conservative measures such as splinting or casting the limb are consistently ineffective in nearly all cases.
Signs
Carpal hyperextension injury is most commonly seen in large active dogs; however, small breeds certainly can sustain a similar injury. Warning signs of this condition include lameness that worsens with activity. Swelling and hyperextension (paw sinks down) of the carpus also are common clinical signs.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a carpal hyperextension injury is based on physical examination findings and x-rays of the affected forelimb. The surgeon likely will take stress x-rays of the affected limb, with your pet under anesthesia. This involves applying a stress to the carpus to see which joints have torn ligaments (see photo right – arrow points to the unstable joints). If only the lower two rows of joints are broken down, a partial fusion of the joint will be recommended. If all of the joints are broken down or the top joint is broken down, a fusion of all of the joints will be recommended.
The day of surgery
The anesthesia and surgical team will prescribe a pain management program, both during and after surgery that will keep your companion comfortable. This will include a combination of general anesthesia, injectable analgesics, epidural analgesia, oral analgesics and anti-inflammatory medication. The surgeon will call you following surgery with a progress report.
Treatment
In order to correct this problem, it is essential to perform an arthrodesis or fusion of the carpal joints. This involves removing the cartilage from the surfaces of the bones within the joints, packing the joints with a bone graft that is collected from the humerus bone (near the shoulder) and stabilizing the bones with a plate and screws. The surgeon will have made a determination prior to surgery if a partial arthrodesis (photo right) or a full arthrodesis is necessary. The full arthrodesis will remove all movement within the carpus, whereas the partial arthrodesis retains about 50 to 75% of normal range of motion of the carpus. After surgery, a cast or splint is applied to the limb to support the repair for about four to six weeks.
Aftercare
After surgery, you can continue to give your pet a prescribed pain reliever to minimize discomfort. A splint or cast likely will be used to support the repair for four to six weeks. The splint or cast will need to be changed by your dog’s surgeon at least every other week. It’s also extremely important to limit your dog’s activity and exercise level during the post-operative period. The surgeon will monitor the healing process with a series of follow-up exams. At eight weeks after the surgery, x-rays will be made to evaluate the healing of the bone. Subsequent x-rays will be made on a monthly basis until the bones has completely healed.
Results
Surgical arthrodesis will relieve your companion’s pain once the bones have fused together. A partial arthrodesis commonly will allow your pet to have normal function of the limb with good range of motion of the carpus. A full arthrodesis of the carpus typically results in good function of the limb; however, a gait abnormality is expected, as the carpus will not have any movement. Uncommon complications following surgery include infection, failure of the bones to fuse together, breakage of the implants (metal plate and screws) and cold sensitivity. In general, about 90 to 95% of the patients will respond well to the surgery.