Ultrasound characteristics of the biceps tendon of the shoulder and its synovial sheath in normal and pathological conditions in dogs

Tendon diseases are common causes of lameness associated with shoulder joints in adult dogs. The most common pathological changes in tendons are ruptures (partial or complete), inflammation, mineralization or ossification, and tendon dislocation. It is difficult to determine the degree of tendon damage based on existing classifications, since not all take into account the concomitant change in the synovial sheath or mainly take into account changes in one tendon. Also, the visually permissible amount of fluid that can be observed normally in patients without clinical signs of lameness has not been assessed and described in sufficient detail. The article provides a comparative analysis of the ultrasound characteristics of the biceps tendon and its synovial sheath in the shoulder joints in three groups of dogs: clinically healthy at the time of the study (n=10), with lameness of the thoracic limb or thoracic limbs at the time of the study (n=10), without clinical signs of lameness at the time of the examination, but having a history of lameness on the thoracic limb or both thoracic limbs (n=10). Paired joints were examined in all patients. The ultrasound characteristics of the biceps tendon and its synovial sheath are normal. The diagnostically significant ultrasonographic criteria for pathologies of the above structures were determined and correlated with clinical manifestations. Based on the selected criteria, ultrasound degrees of severity of pathological changes are formulated, taking into account the presence of fluid, changes in the structure of the tendon and its synovial sheath. In addition, the fact that fluid was visualized in the synovial tendon sheath of the biceps muscle was not always a sign of pathological changes and correlated with the symptoms. From a clinical point of view, the possibility of detecting ultrasound changes can help confirm or exclude the presence of pathology as the main cause of lameness, or consider the findings less important, and continue the diagnostic examination.