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New research from Ralpher, Alan Danielski

New research alert!

We’re super proud of Ralpher Alan Danielski DVM MRCVS DipECVS European and RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery who’s been researching two common orthopaedic conditions with a view to improving the lives of our furry friends.

In a pioneering study Alan investigated Spaniels with a condition called humeral intracondylar fissure (HIF), which is a weakness in one of the elbow bones and very often leads to a fracture of the elbow. This condition is commonly associated with Spaniel breeds (just like Wellington, Ziggy and Snoop pictured (top to bottom)), but also affects other breeds such as French Bulldogs and Labradors.

This was the first study of its kind to report a cartilage lesion in the caudal humeral condyle (the bit of bone at the end of the humerus) caused by the elbow bones not fitting together properly. This is really exciting as it means this lesion could explain what the cause of HIF is and possibly offer different treatments in dogs suffering from HIF. That’s why Alan is continuing his research to investigate a novel treatment method. Keep your eyes peeled next year for the results!

In his second study, which was a collaboration with surgeons from other referral centres and co-authored by fellow Ralpher Miguel Solano, Alan investigated the complications associated with a common orthopaedic procedure called proximal abducting ulnar osteotomy (PAUL) which is used to treat severe cartilage damage associated to elbow dysplasia. It is the first written study that describes complications and risk factors associated with PAUL in a large group of dogs. The study also demonstrated a significant association between weight and increased risk of postoperative complications, meaning heavier dogs would be more likely to suffer from complications after surgery.

To read more about the studies check out the full papers which are published in the esteemed Veterinary Surgery journal. They are freely available via the Wiley Online Library.

Read more about our Orthopaedic Service here, or for more about Alan and the rest of the team, visit Our Team page.

 

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