Radiographic Evaluation of the Appearance and Closure Time of Growth Plates of Radius and Ulna Bones in Nigerian Indigenous Dogs

Growth plates are specialized cartilages extending longitudinally between the epiphysis and metaphysis of immature long bones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the appearance, sequential thickness and closure time of the proximal and distal growth plates of radius and ulna bones in Nigerian indigenous dogs considering the paucity of information on these areas. In this study, a total of sixteen (8 male and 8 females) apparently healthy Nigerian indigenous dogs were used over a period of 48 weeks. Medio-lateral radiographic exposures of the right forelimb of each puppy were taken at weekly intervals up to a period of 9 weeks and thereafter at 4 weeks interval. The radiographic images were reviewed and interpreted. The results obtained showed that the growth plate of the distal epiphysis of the radius was the first to appear at week 2 in some dogs and at 3 weeks in others, while that of the proximal epiphysis of the radius appeared second at 5 weeks in all the dogs. The growth plate of the distal epiphysis of the ulna bone appeared at 6 weeks while that of the proximal epiphysis of the ulna appeared at 8 weeks in all the dogs. The proximal ulna growth plate was the first to fuse at 24 weeks followed by the proximal radius at 28 weeks, then the distal ulna at 32 weeks while the distal radius was the last to fuse at 36 weeks in most of the dogs.