This flap can cause symptoms on its own. The final separation of the flap may be precipitated by a relatively minor trauma and produce an acute onset of lameness. It is also possible for this free piece of cartilage to continue to grow within the joint and impinge on various joint structures. Lameness is the presenting symptom. It first occurs between four and eight months of age.
Males are approximately three times more frequently affected than females.
Lameness may be a sudden event and is usually of a slight to moderate degree at first. It generally worsens with exercise and diminishes with rest. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals does maintain an Elbow Registry. The purpose of this registry is to identify phenotypically normal dogs and screen radiographs for signs of early degenerative elbow joint disease. Dogs aged 24 months or older that have normal radiographs will be assigned a breed registry number.