Summary
Objective: The purpose of our study was (1) to determine whether four-view radiography of the
pelvis is as reliable and accurate as computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing sacral
and pelvic fractures, in addition to coxofemoral and sacroiliac joint subluxation
or luxation, and (2) to evaluate the effect of the amount of training in reading diagnostic
imaging studies on the accuracy of diagnosing sacral and pelvic fractures in dogs.
Methods: Sacral and pelvic fractures were created in 11 canine cadavers using a lateral impactor.
In all cadavers, frog-legged ventrodorsal, lateral, right and left ventro-45°-medial
to dorsolateral oblique frog leg (“rollover 45-degree view”) radiographs and a CT
of the pelvis were obtained. Two radiologists, two surgeons and two veterinary students
classified fractures using a confidence scale and noted the duration of evaluation
for each imaging modality and case. The imaging results were compared to gross dissection.
Results: All evaluators required significantly more time to analyse CT images compared to
radiographic images. Sacral and pelvic fractures, specifically those of the sacral
body, ischiatic table, and the pubic bone, were more accurately diagnosed using CT
compared to radiography. Fractures of the acetabulum and iliac body were diagnosed
with similar accuracy (at least 86%) using either modality.
Clinical significance: Computed tomography is a better method for detecting canine sacral and some pelvic
fractures compared to radiography. Computed tomography provided an accuracy of close
to 100% in persons trained in evaluating CT images.
Keywords
Radiography - computed tomography - pelvis - sacrum - dog
