Ulnar Longitudinal Deficiency: A Case Report

Ulnar longitudinal deficiency (ULD) is a rare skeletal condition marked by the partial or complete failure of the formation of the ulna. This rare condition is often associated with fixed flexion deformity, radial head subluxation, complex carpal, metacarpal, and digital abnormalities. Most presentations are male-preponderant and right-sided. Different classifications have described ULD. Usually, the condition is not associated with systemic findings; however, detailed physical examination and radiologic evaluations are crucial for assessing and managing affected patients. We report a rare case of ULD in an 11-month-old female infant with congenital absence of the left ulna, four digits, and a postaxial hypoplastic finger.

Four Unusual Cases of Congenital Forelimb Malformations in Dogs

Simple Summary

Congenital limb defects are sporadically encountered in dogs during normal clinical practice. Literature concerning their diagnosis and management in canine species is poor. Sometimes, the diagnosis and description of congenital limb abnormalities are complicated by the concurrent presence of different malformations in the same limb and the lack of widely accepted classification schemes. In order to improve the knowledge about congenital limb anomalies in dogs, this report describes the clinical and radiographic findings in four dogs affected by unusual congenital forelimb defects, underlying also the importance of reviewing current terminology.

Abstract

Four dogs were presented with thoracic limb deformity. After clinical and radiographic examinations, a diagnosis of congenital malformations was performed for each of them. In one case, a deformity involving both the radial and ulnar side of the distal limb was observed. Based on clinical and radiological evaluations, a diagnosis of postaxial terminal longitudinal ulnar hemimelia was performed. The term ectrodactyly was used to refer different malformations characterized by skin and soft tissue separation of the distal forelimb observed in two dogs. Simple complete uncomplicated syndactyly of the right forelimb, and complex incomplete uncomplicated syndactyly of the left forelimb were diagnosed in the fourth case. To the authors’ knowledge, ectrodactyly and simple complete uncomplicated syndactyly are very uncommon anomalies in companion animals and have been rarely documented. Moreover, postaxial terminal longitudinal ulnar hemimelia has still not been reported in dogs.