A radiographic study of joint angles in standing dogs

Summary

The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and repeatable radiographic protocol for the measurement of joint angles in the standing dog, and to use this protocol to determine all standing joint angles for dogs over a wide range of body weights. The radiographic technique and the method of joint angle measurements were found to be highly repeatable, suggesting that the technique is reliable. Most joint angles did not vary between dogs of different weights. In those few instances where significant differences (p<0.05) were found, certain trends were followed and represent differences in conformation. This paper presents a complete description of the angles defining the position of the joints in a standing dog. This information is important for biomechanical studies, for clinical assessment of dogs, and for the design of surgical procedures such as arthrodesis.

Keywords

Dogs - radiographic - joint angles

• References

• 1 Adrian MJ, Roy WE, Karpovich PV. Normal gait of the dog: An electrogoniometric study. Am J Vet Res 1966; 27 (116) 90-5.
• 2 Brookhart JM, Parmeggiani PL, Petersen WA, Stone SA. Postural stability in the dog. Am J Physiol 1996; 208 (06) 1047-56.
• 3 DeCamp CE, Riggs CM, Olivier NB. et al. Kinematic evaluation of gait in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Am J Vet Res 1996; 57 (01) 120-6.
• 4 DeCamp CE. Kinetic and kinematic gait analysis and the assessment of lameness in the dog. Vet Clinics of North America: Small animal practice 1997; 27 (04) 825-39.
• 5 Douglas SW, Herrtage ME, Williamson HD. Principles of Veterinary Radiology. 4th ed.. Philadelphia PA: Baillière Tindall; 1987
• 6 Heyman SJ, Smith GK, Cofone MA. Biomechanical study of the effect of coxofemoral positioning on passive hip joint laxity in dogs. Am J Vet Res 1993; 54 (02) 210-5.
• 7 Hottinger HA, DeCamp CE, Olivier NB. et al. Noninvasive kinematic analysis of the walk in health large-breed dogs. Am J Vet Res 1996; 57 (03) 381-8.
• 8 Kealy KJ. Diagnostic radiology of the dog and cat. 2nd ed.. Philadelphia PA: W B Saunders Company; 1987
• 9 Kinzel Gl, Van Sickle DC, Hillberry BM, Hall AS. Preliminary study of the in vivo motion in the canine shoulder. Am J Vet Res 1976; 37 (12) 1505-10.
• 10 Kleinman GM. Anatomy of the Dachshund: XRay Studies. Newsletter Dachshund Club of America 1990; 14: 62-70.
• 11 Lesser AS. Arthrodesis. Slatter D. Textbook of Small Animal Surgery. 2nd ed.. Philadelphia PA: W B Saunders Company; 1993: 1888-900.
• 12 Lott D, Kleine-Kuhlmann R, Loeffler K. Bestimmung der Gelenkwinkel an den Gliedmaβen von Hunden. 1. Mitteilung: Darstellung und Bewertung der Methode. Kleintierpraxis 1988; 33: 239-42.
• 13 Mann FA, Tangner CH, Wagner-Mann C, Read WK. A comparison of standard femoral head and neck excision and femoral head and neck excision using a biceps femoris muscle flap in the dog. Vet Surg 1987; 16 (03) 223-30.
• 14 Mann FA, Wagner-Mann C, Tangner CH. Manual goniometric measurement of the canine pelvic limb. JAAHA 1988; 24 (02) 189-194.
• 15 Page AE, Allan C, Jasty M, Harrigan TP. et al. Determination of loading parameters in the canine hip in vivo. J Biomechanics 1993; 26 4-5 571-9.
• 16 Roy WE. Examination of the canine locomotor system. Vet Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice 1971; 01 (01) 53-70.
• 17 Schaefer SL, DeCamp CE, Hauptman JG, Walton A. Kinematic gait analysis of hind limb symmetry in dogs at the trot. Am J Vet Res 1998; 59 (06) 680-5.
• 18 Shebitz H, Wilkens H. Atlas of radiographic anatomy of the dog and horse. 2nd ed.. Berlin: Paul Parey; 1973: 46-68.
• 19 Smallwood JE, Shively MJ, Rendano VT, Habel RE. A standardized nomenclature for radiographic projections used in veterinary medicine. Vet Radiol 1985; 26 (01) 2-9.
• 20 Smallwood JE, Spaulding KA. Radiographic anatomy of the dog and the horse. In: Thrall DE. Textbook of veterinary diagnostic radiology. 3rd ed.. Philadelphia: W B Saunders Company; 1998: 575-604.
• 21 Smith GK, LaFond E, Heyman SJ, Cofone MA. et al. Biomechanical characterization of passive laxity of the hip joint in dogs. Am J Vet Res 1997; 58 (10) 1078-81.
• 22 Turner TM, Lipowitz AJ. Arthrodesis. Bojrab MJ, Ellison GW, Slocum B. Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery. 4th ed.. Baltimore MD: Williams and Wilkins; 1998: 1275-85.