A method for visualizing the dorsal acetabular rim and the coverage of the femoral head

Summary

The authors describe a new technique to visualize the dorsal acetabular rim and the coverage of the femoral head in the nonsedated dog. The technique involves using an overhead beam, directed at an angle tangential to the dorsal rim of the acetabulum, with a film positioned caudal to the standing dog. Anatomical landmarks that can routinely be identified include: the ilial crest, ilial shaft, ischial tuberosity, acetabulum, acetabular rim (particularly the dorsocaudal component), femoral head, greater trochanter, femoral neck, femoral shaft, rectum and the tail. Because the animal is standing and is not sedated, the technique may have additional value as a means of evaluating subluxation of the hip joint. It maintains a posture as close as possible to that experienced by the animal in normal activity. If the technique has prognostic value in that regard, more investigation is needed, but it is useful in itself as a technique to visualize the area of the acetabulum.

A new radiographic technique to evaluate the canine hip joint is described. The view involves tangential projection of the acetabulum in the standing, awake dog. Nineteen dogs have been radiographed to develop the technique and the method has been found to be technically simple and consistent. It allows examination of the dorsal acetabular rim and may help examine the amount of subluxation of the hip as well as the presence of any degenerative joint disease. The authors advocate additional study to determine the technique’s prognostic value in predicting degenerative change associated with hip dysplasia.

Keywords

Canine - hip - acetabular rim - radiograph - standing

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