title: Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of four-view radiography and conventional computed tomography analysing sacral and pelvic fractures in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study was (1) to determine whether four-view radiography of the pelvis is as reliable and accurate as computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing sacral and pelvic fractures, in addition to coxofemoral and sacroiliac joint subluxation or luxation, and (2) to evaluate the effect of the amount of training in reading diagnostic imaging studies on the accuracy of diagnosing sacral and pelvic fractures in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sacral and pelvic fractures were created in 11 canine cadavers using a lateral impactor. In all cadavers, frog-legged ventro-dorsal, lateral, right and left ventro-45°-medial to dorsolateral oblique frog leg ("rollover 45-degree view") radiographs and a CT of the pelvis were obtained. Two radiologists, two surgeons and two veterinary students classified fractures using a confidence scale and noted the duration of evaluation for each imaging modality and case. The imaging results were compared to gross dissection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All evaluators required significantly more time to analyse CT images compared to radiographic images. Sacral and pelvic fractures, specifically those of the sacral body, ischiatic table, and the pubic bone, were more accurately diagnosed using CT compared to radiography. Fractures of the acetabulum and iliac body were diagnosed with similar accuracy (at least 86%) using either modality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computed tomography is a better method for detecting canine sacral and some pelvic fractures compared to radiography. Computed tomography provided an accuracy of close to 100% in persons trained in evaluating CT images.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Susanne Stieger-Vanegas, Magruder Hall, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, United States, Phone: +1 541 737 4833, Fax: +1 541 737 6879, E-mail: Susanne.stieger@oregonstate.edu.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Stieger-Vanegas
authors.forename: S K J
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Senthirajah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nemanic
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baltzer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Warnock
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bobe
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D007085:Ilium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D011630:Pubic Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D011631:Pubic Symphysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D012447:Sacrum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Radiography; computed tomography; dog; pelvis; sacrum