Sartorius Muscle Contracture in a German Shepherd Dog

OBJECTIVE: To report sartorius muscle contracture in a dog. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMALS: A 5-year-old, male, German Shepherd dog. METHODS: After a 2-month history of right hindlimb lameness was treated by tenectomy of the caudal sartorius muscle for sartorius muscle contracture. RESULTS: One month after surgery there was complete remission of clinical signs; however, after 12 months, there was partial reunion of sartorius caudal belly and onset of gracilis muscle contracture. CONCLUSIONS: Contracture of the sartorius muscle in dogs is seemingly rare and similar to gracilis muscle contracture with which it may be confused. Differentiation requires knowledge of muscular anatomy, careful palpation, and surgical inspection. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Sartorius muscle contracture can be treated by tenectomy or removal of contracted muscle tissue, however, long-term outcome suggests the need to develop approaches that prevent recurrence caused by scarring of transected tissues.