title: Kinematic and kinetic analysis of dogs during trotting after amputation of a thoracic limb.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize biomechanical differences in gait between dogs with and without an amputated thoracic limb.
  
  
  METHODS
  Client-owned dogs (16 thoracic-limb amputee and 24 quadruped [control] dogs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were trotted across 3 in-series force platforms. Spatial kinematic and kinetic data were recorded for each limb during the stance phase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amputees had significant increases in stance duration and vertical impulse in all limbs, compared with values for control dogs. Weight distribution was significantly increased by 14% on the remaining thoracic limb and by a combined 17% on pelvic limbs in amputees. Braking ground reaction force (GRF) was significantly increased in the remaining thoracic limb and pelvic limb ipsilateral to the amputated limb. The ipsilateral pelvic limb had a significantly increased propulsive GRF. The carpus and ipsilateral hip and stifle joints had significantly greater flexion during the stance phase. The cervicothoracic vertebral region had a significantly increased overall range of motion (ROM) in both the sagittal and horizontal planes. The thoracolumbar vertebral region ROM increased significantly in the sagittal plane but decreased in the horizontal plane. The lumbosacral vertebral region had significantly greater flexion without a change in ROM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with results for quadruped dogs, the vertebral column, carpus, and ipsilateral hip and stifle joints had significant biomechanical changes after amputation of a thoracic limb. The ipsilateral pelvic limb assumed dual thoracic and pelvic limb roles because the gait of a thoracic limb amputee during trotting appeared to be a mixture of various gait patterns.
authors: School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors: Sarah L
authors: SL
authors: Jarvis
authors: Deanna R
authors: DR
authors: Worley
authors: Sara M
authors: SM
authors: Hogy
authors: Ashley E
authors: AE
authors: Hill
authors: Kevin K
authors: KK
authors: Haussler
authors: Raoul F
authors: RF
authors: Reiser
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005552:Forelimb / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D014741:Video Recording