Evaluation of radiographic hip dysplasia in adult dogs: comparison between two methods

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of conventional and distraction radiographic methods in adult German Shepherd dogs. Sixteen animals were tested, eleven females and eight males, with a mean age of 4.8 years. All dogs were clinically evaluated to detect locomotor and/or nervous system changes that could affect normal locomotion, but clinical hip dysplasia (HD) alterations were excluded. Two techniques were used for radiographic evaluation of hip joints, the Conventional Radiographic Method (CRM), adopted by Fédération Cynologique Internationale and the Distraction Radiographic Method (DRM). 62.5% of the evaluated animals were classified as having some degree of HD. The correlation between CRM and DRM was moderate. When DRM was used alone, it was considered an ineffective method, with 75% sensitivity and 44% specificity. From this study, it can be concluded that CRM is an effective diagnostic method for hip dysplasia when compared to DRM in adult German Shepherd dogs.

adult dog; distraction index; hip dysplasia; Norberg angle