title: Curvature Radius Measurements From the Ulnar Trochlear Notch in Large Dogs.
abstract: Assessing the ulnar trochlear notch (UTN) radiographic anatomy has been considered important, but difficult, in the diagnosis of elbow dysplasia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate UTN curvature of natural elbows in radiographs, using a methodology applied to disarticulated joints. The methodology was implemented and validated using dedicated software created by the authors. Mediolateral extended (MLE) and mediolateral flexed (MLF) elbow views were used from 20 joints from canine cadavers that were over 20 kg. After arranging the bones to avoid radiographic overlapping of the bones, an additional mediolateral radioulnar (MLRU) view was made. Curvature radius measurements from the central ridge of the UTN of each elbow were acquired in the MLRU view, using the software. The measurements were repeated in a second session, to determine repeatability. Then similar UTN measurements were taken from the MLE and MLF views, to determine reproducibility. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for repeatability and reproducibility of measurements were above 0.98 (95% confidence interval limits >0.75). The 95% limits of agreement (LA) for repeatability were -2.98 to 3.19 mm. The 95% LA for reproducibility between MLRU and MLE views were -4.32 to 3.75 mm. The 95% LA for reproducibility between MLRU and MLF views were -5.02 to 4.07 mm. The methodology and software are determined to be both precise and suitable to evaluate the UTN in MLE and MLF elbow views of large breed dogs, for anatomical and clinical purposes. In the future it would be useful to characterize normal and dysplastic UTN of different dog breeds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.|CITAB-Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alves-Pimenta
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.|CITAB-Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário Manuel
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ginja
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colaço
authors.affiliation: CITAB-Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.|Center of Intelligent Systems, IDMEC/LAETA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, 1049-001, Portugal.
authors.forename: Armando Manuel
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.|CITAB-Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Melo-Pinto
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.|CITAB-Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Colaço
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D011859:Radiography; D011884:Radius / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014457:Ulna / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: clinical anatomy; dog incongruity; elbow dysplasia; medial coronoid process; radiography