P. Maitre

Prevalence of hip dysplasia according to official radiographic screening, among 31 breeds of dogs in France - A retrospective study

In order to determine the prevalence of hip dysplasia (HD) from radiographs that were submitted for authorative grading, and its changes over the time in 31 breeds of dogs in France, a 14 year-retrospective study was conducted. Significant differences were observed between breeds, with HD prevalence ranging from 59.7% (Cane Corso) to 3.9% (Siberian Husky). When comparing the 1993-1999 with the 2000-2006 period in 15 breeds, a significant decrease in HD prevalence was detected in Berger Picard, Bernese Mountain dog, Briard, Gordon Setter, White Swiss Sheepdog and Rottweiler. Modifications observed in the other breeds were not statistically significant.

Is a Pressure Walkway System Able to Highlight a Lameness in Dog

The aim of this study was to evaluate spatio-temporal and pressure parameters of lame large-breed dogs at a walk compared to sound dogs and to assess left/right limb symmetry and fore/hind limb ratio of those parameters. A 4.3 m electronic walkway system was used to record and calculate spatio-temporal and pressure parameters in 8 healthy and 4 lame adult large-breed dogs at walk. At walk, gait was found symmetrical for all sound dogs, and no significant difference was detected for the left and right symmetry for any parameters. The values of fore/hind limb ratio showed a more significant distribution on the forelimb rather than the hind limb for the stance time, relative stance time; for the peak vertical pressure and number of activated sensors. This system was able to determine and quantify the asymmetry and abnormal gait on lame dogs. Modification of the fore/hind limb ratio has been observed with abnormal postures due to orthopedic lesions. The results from this study corresponded well with the clinical signs and radiological examination. The evaluation of symmetry was quicker and easier way to perform than comparing the absolute values of each parameter. The left /right symmetry and fore/hind limb ratio may be a good way to qualify and quantify a gait for lame dogs in a clinical setting. Based on these results, the pressure walk way proved to be a quick and useful tool for gait analysis and for long term lameness follow-up.

Endoscope‐Assisted Thoracolumbar Lateral Corpectomy

OBJECTIVE To report an endoscope-assisted lateral approach to expose the intervertebral foramen and disk and perform lateral corpectomy of thoracolumbar disks in dogs. STUDY DESIGN Cadaver study. ANIMALS Fresh canine cadavers (n=6). METHODS A thoracic (T10-T11) and a lumbar (L3-L4) lateral approach were made on 6 fresh canine mixed breed cadavers. Through a limited skin incision, musculature was dissected and retracted using a neurosurgical self-retaining retractor and lateral corpectomy performed. The approach and bone removal, both performed under endoscopic control, were assessed. RESULTS The foramen and intervertebral disk were clearly observed in all specimens without any iatrogenic injury of the ventral and dorsal nerve branches. Access to the foramen was possible in all specimens; in the thoracic area the head of the rib was always partially excised to observe the intervertebral disk medially. Lateral corpectomy was easily performed in all cadavers and spinal cord observation was good. Extension to foraminotomy or mini hemilaminectomy could easily be performed through the same limited approach. CONCLUSION Endoscopic exploration provided a good viewing of the intervertebral disk and/or foramen. An endoscope-assisted thoracolumbar lateral corpectomy could effectively be performed through a limited approach to the thoracolumbar disks and allowed good ventral spinal cord assessment.

Radiographic assessment of the femorotibial joint of the CCLT rabbit experimental model of osteoarthritis

BackgroundThe purposes of the study were to determine the relevance and validity of in vivo non-invasive radiographic assessment of the CCLT (Cranial Cruciate Ligament Transection) rabbit model of osteoarthritis (OA) and to estimate the pertinence, reliability and reproducibility of a radiographic OA (ROA) grading scale and associated radiographic atlas.MethodsIn vivo non-invasive extended non weight-bearing radiography of the rabbit femorotibial joint was standardized. Two hundred and fifty radiographs from control and CCLT rabbits up to five months after surgery were reviewed by three readers. They subsequently constructed an original semi-quantitative grading scale as well as an illustrative atlas of individual ROA feature for the medial compartment. To measure agreements, five readers independently scored the same radiographic sample using this atlas and three of them performed a second reading. To evaluate the pertinence of the ROA grading scale, ROA results were compared with gross examination in forty operated and ten control rabbits.ResultsRadiographic osteophytes of medial femoral condyles and medial tibial condyles were scored on a four point scale and dichotomously for osteophytes of medial fabella. Medial joint space width was scored as normal, reduced or absent. Each ROA features was well correlated with gross examination (p < 0.001). ICCs of each ROA features demonstrated excellent agreement between readers and within reading. Global ROA score gave the highest ICCs value for between (ICC 0.93; CI 0.90-0.96) and within (ICC ranged from 0.94 to 0.96) observer agreements. Among all individual ROA features, medial joint space width scoring gave the highest overall reliability and reproducibility and was correlated with both meniscal and cartilage macroscopic lesions (rs = 0.68 and rs = 0.58, p < 0.001 respectively). Radiographic osteophytes of the medial femoral condyle gave the lowest agreements while being well correlated with the macroscopic osteophytes (rs = 0.64, p < 0.001).ConclusionNon-invasive in vivo radiography of the rabbit femorotibial joint is feasible, relevant and allows a reproducible grading of experimentally induced OA lesion. The radiographic grading scale and atlas presented could be used as a template for in vivo non invasive grading of ROA in preclinical studies and could allow future comparisons between studies.

Risk of simultaneous phenotypic expression of hip and elbow dysplasia in dogs: a study of 1,411 radiographic examinations sent for official scoring.

In order to look for phenotypic correlation between hip (HD) and elbow (ED) dysplasia, we used radiographic scoring obtained from 1,411 dogs of different breeds, which were evaluated for authoritative grading of both conditions. In this population, we found that the risk ratio for an animal to be simultaneously affected by HD and ED is 1.67. For a dog with ED, the risk ratio to be affected by HD increases as the ED grade increases. Similarly, for a dog affected by HD, the risk ratio to be affected by ED increases as the HD grade increases. In a dog affected by HD or ED, the clinician should look for the second condition in the same animal. Due to the low, yet positive correlation, selection against one trait will not affect the other trait sufficiently. Therefore selection has to be conducted at reduction of HD as well as reduction of ED.

Hip dysplasia in dogs: correlation between clinical lameness score, radiographic findings and walkway gait analysis

Hip dysplasia is a frequent degenerative disease, leading to hip osteoarthritis and functional disabilities. Its diagnosis requires a combination of orthopaedic and radiographic findings. Despite the close relationship between X-Ray and hip dysplasia diagnosis, previous studies showed that the clinical examination was not correlated with radiographic hip dysplasia assessment. Moreover, objective gait analysis data obtained from kinetic and kinematic devices seemed to be not significantly correlated with radiographic lesions. Pressure walkway systems have never been used to qualify and quantify this affection. The aim of this study was to provide objective gait analysis and to look for correlation between lameness score, Fédération Cynophilique Internationale (FCI) grading and gait data.

Evaluation Spatial-temporal and Pressure Parameters of Normal Cats at Walk, Using a Pressure Walkway

Quadrupedal locomotion is nowadays well known for dogs and horses; kinetic and kinematic systems allow sensitive and reliable gait analysis. On the other hand, cat locomotion has been less studied and data remain still confused and restricted.

Gait Analysis for Sound Dogs at a Walk by Using a Pressure Walkway

The purpose of this study was to evaluate spatio-temporal and pressure parameters in two different sized dogs: large-breed (Retriever) and small-breed dogs (Beagle), by using a pressure sensors walkway. 55 healthy adult dogs from 1 to 4.5 years old: 28 Retriever (mean weight: 29.7 kg) and 27 Beagle (mean weight: 10.8 kg) were tested by GAITRite® system. It is a portable pressure walkway of 4.3 meters long and 16128 sensors, which measures spatio-temporal and pressure parameters. Data collected included: stance time; relative stance time (stance time/stride time), stride time; stride length; peak vertical pressure, number of activated sensors by each paw; cadence and walking velocity. Symmetry left/right and ratio fore/hind limbs were also calculated. No significant difference for mean of velocity for Retriever (1.09 m/s) and Beagle dogs (1.14 m/s), but a significant different for the cadence between large (1.6) and small dogs (2.09) stride/s. No significant difference between the left and right forelimbs or left and right hind limbs for any parameters in either group. But the differences were significantly for all parameters between two groups.

Dog limbs electrogoniometric study at walking gait

Electrogoniometric studies are well known to provide reliable and accurate data to assess joint mobility and their angular velocity. Since the work of Marey and his chronophotograph, many kinematic devices have been developed for gait analysis. However, only one electrogoniometric study had been published for canine gait analysis and was limited to hindlimb motion (Adrian et al. 1966). The aim of this study was to use a flexible electrogoniometer to explore the limbs kinematics of a dog at walk in two planes. The purpose was to establish range of motion (ROM) values for each hindlimb and forelimb joint. The results of this study will be used as a guide for the investigation and diagnosis of pathologic gaits.

Chronic cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dog: four legs assessment with a walkway

Clinical evaluation of gait is subjective, and provides nonreliable and non-sensitive data. The necessity of objective measurements for experimental and post treatment followup, led the veterinary surgeon to resort to gait analysis systems. Many devices had been developed for gait evaluation like force plate, platform pressure system, treadmill and kinematic devices. Gaitquad walkway has been specially designed for dog analysis and provides kinetic and pressure data. It analyses the stance of each limb for each stride, and compares limbs to each other during the same test. The aim of this study is to analyze the lameness induced by a chronic cranial cruciate ligament rupture with GAITRite walkway, thus to evaluate utility and feasibility of using a walkway for gait analysis in dogs.