The treatment for ununited anconeal process is surgical, unless severe arthritis has developed. Several options exist, but surgical excision is the most widely accepted method. In this procedure, the loose anconeal process is removed to prevent further irritation to the joint. In severely arthritic elbows, the surgery may not result in improvement.
Another method that has been advocated is reattachment of the anconeal process with bone screws. The reported success rate varies, and this type of surgery should be performed only if the disease is recognized very early in its progression.
A recently reported treatment in German shepherds called an ulnar osteotomy involves making a bone cut in the ulna to reduce the force on the anconeal process. In the study, a significant number of dogs that underwent this procedure developed a normal fusion of the anconeal process to the ulna. An ulnar osteotomy is generally performed early in the disease, before severe arthritis or displacement of the bony process has occurred.
Medical management consists of maintaining a lean body weight, using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and participating in low impact physical therapy such as swimming.
