Abstract
Objective The aim of this study was to examine a method for measuring femoral trochlear morphology
in dogs using ultrasonography, and survey femoral trochlear morphology in skeletally
normal dogs.
Study Design To examine the validity of ultrasonography, three raters measured the sulcus angle
(SA; the angle between the medial and lateral facets) five times in five skeletally
normal dogs. Intra- and interrater reliabilities were then calculated. We also calculated
the correlation coefficient between SAs measured using ultrasonography and computed
tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Then, we surveyed the femoral
trochlear morphology in skeletally normal dogs using ultrasonography.
Results The intra- and interrater reliability for SAs measured using ultrasonography was
good, and the correlation coefficient between SAs measured using ultrasonography and
CT, or MRI, was strong. In skeletally normal dogs, the SAs for osseous contours decreased
until 6 months of age. However, the SAs for cartilaginous contours did not change
during the growth period.
Conclusion The ultrasonographic measurement method is reliable for the evaluation of femoral
trochlear morphology in dogs. The contour of the articular cartilage surface of the
femoral trochlea is already determined early in life, and ossification of the articular
cartilage of the femoral trochlea proceeds until 6 months of age. The results of this
study will provide crucial information for the evaluation of femoral trochlear morphology
in dogs.
Keywords
sulcus angle - dogs - femoral trochlea - patellar luxation - ultrasonography
