Top 5 Most Common Orthopedic Conditions
1.0 CE Credit Hour / Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA
Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS-SA
Dr. Courtney A. Campbell is a board certified small animal surgeon who specializes in orthopedic, soft tissue, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Campbell most recently worked at a surgical center in southern California and has now transitioned to locum surgery. Courtney has been a host, author, producer, and content creator for over 10 years. He has been deeply dedicated to veterinary journalism including co-hosting Pet Talk - a first of its kind talk show on Nat Geo Wild. He is a recurring veterinary health correspondent on a variety of programs such as The Rachael Ray Show, WebMD, Home & Family and others. He shares his life between veterinary surgery, veterinary journalism, and exploring the depth of the human-animal bond. He’s looking forward to new possibilities in 2023.
Overview:
We see a lot of orthopedic disease in practice! In this lecture, we will explore the top five most common orthopedic diseases seen in veterinary practice, with a focus on improving diagnosis and treatment outcomes. Topics include ruptured cranial cruciate ligament disease, lameness, medial patella luxation, and elbow disease, all of which significantly impact patient mobility and quality of life. Learn the latest diagnostic techniques, surgical interventions, and post-operative care strategies to enhance patient recovery as we are entering 2025. Be better equipped to manage these orthopedic conditions in your practice! Come join me!
Learning Objectives:
Evaluate canine lameness through gait assessment:
- Understand that trotting in a straight line is the best gait to evaluate lameness in dogs.
Identify developmental and joint-related orthopedic conditions in dogs:
- Recognize coronoid disease as a developmental defect in the elbow leading to osteoarthritis.
Apply diagnostic tests for orthopedic conditions:
- Utilize the drawer test as the most reliable physical examination method for diagnosing cranial cruciate ligament rupture.
- Conduct the SI compression test to diagnose sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Differentiate orthopedic clinical signs and breed predispositions:
- Identify forelimb lameness as a clinical sign of elbow dysplasia.
- Recognize Chihuahuas as a breed commonly predisposed to patellar luxation.
Select appropriate diagnostic and treatment modalities for orthopedic cases:
- Use MRI as the most effective imaging modality for evaluating soft tissue structures in orthopedic cases.
- Understand that surgical intervention (e.g., TPLO) is a common treatment for cranial cruciate ligament rupture.
This course is RACE-approved for 1.0 continuing education credits hours in jurisdictions that accept RACE-approval.
This activity is sponsored by Stitches Veterinary Surgery Center
