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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2022; 35(05): 314-320
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1749151
Original Research

Computed Tomographic Measurements of the Sulcus Angle of the Femoral Trochlea in Small-Breed Dogs with and without Medial Patellar Luxation

Akari Sasaki‡   *
1   Laboratory of Veterinary Emergency Medicine, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
,
Yuki Hidaka‡   *
2   Veterinary Medical Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
,
Manabu Mochizuki
1   Laboratory of Veterinary Emergency Medicine, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
2   Veterinary Medical Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
,
Muneki Honnami
2   Veterinary Medical Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Trochleoplasty is often performed in dogs with medial patellar luxation (MPL); however, the current guidelines on when to perform a trochleoplasty in dogs are vague. The sulcus angle (SA) is used to assess the femoral trochlear morphology in humans. The aim of this study is to describe a method to measure the SA and other parameters of trochlea morphology in dogs using computed tomography. First, we searched for a suitable measuring location for the SA. Transverse images of the femurs were obtained as perpendicular planes to the tangent of the femoral trochlea which was 0 to 60 degrees (every 5 degrees) to the anatomical axis of the femur. The deepest point of the femoral trochlea was found in the transverse images perpendicular to the tangent of the femoral trochlea which was at 15 degrees to the anatomical axis of the femur. The SA and the other parameters of femoral trochlea morphology were measured at the deepest point of the femoral trochlea. The SA of the stifle joints with grade 3 and 4 MPL was significantly higher than the SA of stifle joints not affected by MPL. There was no significant difference in the SA between dogs affected by grade 1 and 2 MPL and dogs not affected by MPL. Further studies are needed to establish whether the SA can be used as selection criteria for trochleoplasty.

Keywords

sulcus angle - dogs - femoral trochlea - patellar luxation - computed tomography

Authors' Contributions

A.S. and Y.H. were involved in conception of study, study design, acquisition of data, data analysis and interpretation, drafting of manuscript and approval of submitted manuscript.


M.M. conceptualized the study, revised the manuscript and provided approval of submitted manuscript. M.H. was involved in conception of study, study design, acquisition of data, data analysis and interpretation, revising of manuscript and approval of submitted manuscript.


* These authors contributed equally to this work.




Publication History

Received: 24 May 2021

Accepted: 06 April 2022

Article published online:
27 June 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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