Characterization of the alignment of the canine pelvic limb

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Angular limb deformities are common place in the canine. Until recently, repair of deformities was based upon crude radiographic measures of bone alignment before surgery or subjective assessment of limb appearance during surgery. Recently the Center of Rotation of Angulation (CORA) methodology has been introduced to veterinary surgery, wherein the relationships between the joint surfaces and the adjacent bone are taken into account. A repeatable methodology for assessment of the alignment of the tibia, in frontal and sagittal planes, and for the assessment of the alignment of the entire pelvic limb, in the frontal plane, was established. Reference ranges for the angular relationships between the joint surfaces and the tibial axes in frontal and sagittal plane were established. Reference ranges were also established for the angular relationships between the individual bone-segments of the pelvic limb and between the pelvic limb axis and bones of the pelvic limb. Finally, it was determined that there frontal plane tibial alignment does not appear to play a role in the pathogenesis of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease.