Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2008; 21(02): 129-132
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-07-05-0046
Original Research
Schattauer GmbH

Digital measurement of radiographic tibial plateau angle. A comparison to measurement on printed digital images

S. A. Lister
1   Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small Animal Surgery, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
,
J. K. Roush
1   Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small Animal Surgery, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
,
W. C. Renberg
1   Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Small Animal Surgery, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 14 May 2007

Accepted 04 July 2007

Publication Date:
17 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Pre-operative digital radiographs from 50 dogs undergoing a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy were evaluated. Tibial plateau angles were measured directly on printed films and measured on digital images using two different commercial DICOM viewers. The radiographs were scored for osteoarthritis and positioning. Using pooled results, the mean TPA from the digital images employing Web1000 (26.47° ± 3.90) was significantly higher then the mean TPA using film radiographs (25.41° ± 3.51), or IQ-View Pro (25.48° ± 3.89). There was not a significant difference between mean TPA using radiographs or IQ-view. Digital TPA measurement using built-in angle calipers in the clinical setting is a valid technique compared to measurements from film radiographs, and produces reproducible results. However, before changing to digital measurements, the chosen software programme should be validated against measurements using film radiographs to determine the magnitude of differences.