Total elbow replacement rehab

[Guest guest]

I've been preented with my first total elbow replacement rehab and wondered if

anyone had any helpful hints.

This is a very large (to be kind) lab retr. He's had bilat TPLO's, and the left

stifle, which was operated on a year ago, isn't doing so well. I suspect

meniscal damage(no click) but the referring vet is the one who did the surgery,

so I'm treading carefully.

Both elbows are severely dysplastic. The right elbow was replaced 3 weeks ago.

It's very thickened and he is feather weight bearing.

So far, we've been doing very gentle stretches, PROM, NMES of supraspinatus and

infraspinatus, joint mobs and massage. Also lasering the left stifle.

We're about to start UWTM which, I hope, will help all the joints. We'll be

starting at a very high water level and going very cautiously.

I understand that only 2 screws are holding this together. I haven't ever seen

radiographs of the procedure.

I'm hoping that if there isn't migration of screws in the next 2 weeks, we can

be more aggressive about rehab, but this poor guy is such an orthopedic

nightmare, it's given me pause.

Anyone with experience in rehabbing patients like this one?

Thanks,

Meryl Lessinger, VMD, CVA, CCRT

burg, VA