Download PDF
Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2770-5528
Original Research

Inter- and Intraobserver Reliability of CT Assessment of Canine Elbow Sclerosis in the Absence of Elbow Pathology

Authors

  • Luke F. Ellis 

    1   Department of Small Animal Surgery, Peninsula Vet Emergency and Referral Hospital, Mornington, VIC, Australia

  • Arthur K. House

    1   Department of Small Animal Surgery, Peninsula Vet Emergency and Referral Hospital, Mornington, VIC, Australia

  • Mika Frances

    2   Department of Small Animal Radiology, VetCT, Applecross, Western Australia, Australia

  • Rebekah Knight

    3   Department of Small Animal Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United Kingdom

  • Helen Dirrig

    4   Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United Kingdom

  • Alison Hillman

    5   Department of Veterinary Epidemiology, AUSVET, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Objective

To establish a highly standardized elbow computed tomography (CT) examination protocol and evaluate inter- and intraobserver reliability of assessment of canine elbow sclerosis in the absence of elbow pathology.

Study Design

Dogs that presented for CT screening for elbow dysplasia prior to breeding were evaluated. Only dogs diagnosed with CT as being free of elbow dysplasia were included. The CT images were randomized and assessed by five blinded observers. Two observers re-reviewed 30 randomly selected studies on a second occasion. A standardized approach to CT image reconstruction to create consistent image planes was used. Sclerosis was subjectively as graded 0 (no sclerosis), 1 (mild sclerosis), and 2 (marked sclerosis). Objective assessment of sclerosis using Hounsfield units (HU) was measured within a standardized region of interest at the medial aspect of the humeral condyle (MAHC) and medial coronoid process (MCP).

Results

Complete agreement between observers in ordinal scoring of sclerosis was moderate for each region (MCP traditional 38.8%, MCP modified 28.6%, MAHC 26.5%). Intraobserver reliability of ordinal sclerosis scoring was poor to moderate. The inter- and intraobserver reliability of HU measurements was good to moderate, and good to excellent, respectively. Correlation between sclerosis scores and HU measurements was low to moderate.

Conclusion

Subjective and objective assessment of sclerosis of the MCP and MAHC in the absence of elbow pathology is unreliable despite the use of a highly standardized protocol.

Keywords

canine elbow dysplasia - elbow sclerosis - Hounsfield units - inter- and intraobserver reliability - medial coronoid process

Contributors' Statement

L.E., A. House and M.F. contributed to the conception, study design, acquisition of data, data analysis and interpretation. R.K. and H.D. contributed to the acquisition of data, data analysis and interpretation. A.Hillman contributed to study design, data analysis and interpretation. All the authors drafted, revised, and approved the submitted manuscript and are publicly responsible for the relevant content.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 06 March 2025

Accepted: 10 December 2025

Article published online:
26 December 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany