title: Use of radiographic measurements in the evaluation of dogs with medial patellar luxation.
abstract: This prospective study used radiographic techniques to evaluate the inclination, Norberg, quadriceps and femoral varus angles, and the patellar position in dogs with developmental medial patellar luxation. The study also compared these measurements pre- and post-operatively to determine how they were affected by surgical procedures. Eighteen dogs with unilateral or bilateral luxation were used, and 4 groups were established according to luxation grade. Except for the quadriceps angle, there was no difference among the groups preoperatively. Significant differences for the quadriceps angle were observed between Grades 1 and 3, and between Grades 2 and 3. The Norberg and femoral varus angles and the patellar position showed no changes between pre- and postoperative groups. However, measurements of the preoperative quadriceps angle and postoperative inclination angle may be useful for evaluating dogs with grade-3 luxation. Further studies using other imaging techniques are required in dogs with severe grade-4 luxation due to the difficulty in obtaining a good radiographic position.
authors.affiliation: São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu - SP, Brazil. ana_mortari@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mortari
authors.forename: Sheila C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Rahal
authors.forename: Luiz C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Vulcano
authors.forename: Vicente Colombi
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Reinaldo S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Volpi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D031222:Patellar Dislocation / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome