Influence of the CFI (Canel Flare Index) Calculation Method on the Femoral Categorization in Dogs

Introduction: Meticulous surgical planning is crucial for the success of total hip arthroplasty in dogs. It is important to highlight that this procedure is essentially multifactorial, and it involves, invariably, anatomical characteristics of both: acetabulum, and proximal femur. The Canal Flare Index (CFI) has been used to characterize the proximal femur, and it is a decisive point when selecting the candidate for replacing the hip once it allows a more precise selection of the surgical technique and femoral stem. The purpose of this present study was to compare CFI values obtained by different intracortical widths in the lesser trochanter and to evaluate their influence on CFI values and femoral categorization.

Materials and Methods: Femur radiographic images were analysed by three evaluators who calculated the CFI using three different points in the lesser trochanter: proximal, midpoint, and distal. All CFI values were statistically compared.

Results: The obtained data demonstrated that there was no interobserver influence. However, there was a difference in the CFI value according to the calculation method, which indicates that the point chosen for endosteal measurement in the lesser trochanter interferes with the CFI final value.

Discussion/Conclusion: The variation in the CFI values can lead to significant impacts on clinical application once it can change the classification of the femur, which has a direct influence on the planning of the total hip arthroplasty procedure and implant selection. There is a lack of standardization on this measurement and this needs to be addressed soon.

Acknowledgement: This study was funded by FAPESP (2019/25225–1).

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
26. Oktober 2022