This section of the website provides a opportunity for us all to learn about past and present patients and their rehabilitation journeys.
Nuri The Wonder Dog
‘’Nuri’s first year of life has definitely not been the one we were expecting, and hoping, to experience with him’’
Nuri’s owner noticed an intermittent forelimb lameness which came on suddenly with no. improvement with rest and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. They got in touch requesting a physiotherapy assessment which his vets had agreed.
Our initial appointment included a lameness assessment to ascertain a working hypothesis alongside establishing injury severity and acuity. Nuri’s assessment revealed he was moderately lame in both forelimbs with a mild hind limb lameness. Dogs are quadrupeds meaning they use four weight bearing limbs to ambulate; however, this can cause discrepancies on gait assessments because they can be lame in one limb to mask an issue in another. In Nuri’s case he presented lame on all four limbs, with moderate lameness in his forelimbs and mild lameness in his pelvic limbs. At this point it was difficult to ascertain a working hypothesis so we delved deeper into the physiotherapy assessment.
Further assessment revealed elbow joint pain and stiffness into flexion (bending) and extension (straightening). Nuri was also very tight in his muscles surrounding the shoulders which impacted how well his shoulder blade moved across his chest wall. His hind limbs were completely normal on assessment fortunately which allowed us to hypothesise he likely had a bilateral elbow joint pathology and his hind limb lameness in his gait assessment was most likely compensatory. Due to our findings Nuri went on to have surgery due to a CT showing a shortened bone in both front legs called the radius, with subsequent extensive Elbow Dysplasia.
‘He has basically been confined to a cage, apart from coming out for two 3 to 4 minute lead walks a day, from around 7 months old’
Nuri had a proximal dynamic bi-oblique ulna osteotomy with his first being just 7 months of age. He had a mismatch between the rate of ulna and radius growth, meaning his radius was shorter than his ulna. What this means for the joint itself is there is a lack of congruency and over time can cause joint overloading when weight bearing and a risk of stress fractures. This type of surgery can allow the new shortened ulna to find a more convenient place to sit, alongside aiming to reduce the rate of Osteoarthritis.
‘’The surgeries he underwent were major however for us most important part of this journey for him was (and will continue to be) making sure we put in place the right rehabilitation to allow him to be the best he can possibly be”
Nuri’s initial rehabilitation goals were focused on achieving full joint range of shoulder, foot and gently into the elbow. He had Neuro Muscular Stimulation to strengthen his muscles alongside electromagnetic current and laser to promote bony and soft tissue healing. As the weeks progressed, so did his goals with a gradual focus on encouraging weight bearing, static strengthening exercises and balance work.
I am happy to say Nuri is now over the worst. Both elbows are healing well with no major or minor setbacks. He has recently started the underwater treadmill as advised by his Veterinary surgeon which is giving him some much-needed variety for his mental stimulation alongside crucial physiological benefits.
”We chose Rochelle and I have to say she has been absolutely amazing. She is not just really knowledgeable and great at her job, importantly she really cares for both her patients and their humans. I can’t recommend Rochelle highly enough. She has been there for him, and importantly for us, every step of the way. Nuri absolutely loves her visits’’