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- Maybe we could use ultrasound for screening?
Inês Tomé, Sofia Alves-Pimenta, Bruno Colaço, Mário Ginja
Background
Hip dysplasia (HD) is a prevalent orthopedic disease in medium- to large-breed dogs, characterized by joint laxity and progressive osteoarthritis. Conventional radiographic methods often detect HD only in advanced stages, while ultrasonography offers a non-invasive alternative for early diagnosis by assessing periarticular soft tissues. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a ventral ultrasonographic approach for assessing hip joint laxity in Estrela Mountain Dogs and its correlation with radiographic distraction index (DI), a standard measure of hip instability.
Methods
The study examined 22 Estrela Mountain Dogs (44 hips) aged 4 to 8 months. Hip ultrasonography was performed using a ventral approach, with key measurements including the cranial femoral neck recess (CFNR) area and capsular-synovial fold thickness (CFT). Hip joint laxity was assessed using stress radiographs to determine the DI. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate correlations between ultrasonographic parameters and DI.
Results
The median CFNR area, CFT, and DI were 44.00 mm², 3.10 mm, and 0.38, respectively. Significant correlations were found between ultrasound-based measurements and DI, with CFNR area (ρ = 0.81, p < 0.01) and CFNR index (ρ = 0.85, p < 0.01) being strongly associated with joint laxity. Ultrasonography successfully identified early soft tissue changes related to HD, suggesting its potential for earlier diagnosis compared to radiography.
Limitations
The study was limited to a single breed and a relatively small sample size. While ultrasonographic findings correlated with DI, long-term clinical outcomes were not assessed. Operator-dependent variability and the absence of histological validation also limit the conclusions.
Conclusions
The ventral ultrasonographic approach to the hip joint is a promising tool for early detection of HD-related changes in Estrela Mountain Dogs. Strong correlations with radiographic DI suggest its potential utility in screening programs. Further studies are needed to refine imaging protocols and validate findings across different breeds and clinical settings.
Ultrasound views were obtained in a ventral approach to the right hip joint in a female dog at 4 months of age and weighing 20 kg. (A) Longitudinal plane of the femoral head–neck, showing on the right side a magnified view of the joint capsule with measurements performed in the study: (a) capsular-synovial fold thickness and (b) outer and (c) inner synovial membrane thicknesses of 2.30, 0.80, and 1.00 mm, respectively. (B) Transverse plane of the femoral head–neck showing on the right side a magnified view of the transverse plane of the cranial femoral neck recess and femoral neck, with measurements performed in the study: (d) white line delimitating the anechoic signal of the synovial fluid within the cranial femoral neck recess of 25.00 mm2 and (e), circumference delimitating the femoral neck with a diameter of 16.00 mm. (1) ventral acetabular rim, (2) femoral head, (3) proximal femoral growth plate, (4) femoral neck, (5) joint capsule, (6) outer synovial membrane layer, (7) outer synovial internal synovial lining, (8) adductor magnus et brevis muscle, (9) adductor longus muscle, (10) pectineus muscle, (11) iliopsoas muscle, and (12) transverse view of the cranial femoral neck recess. Ca: caudal, Cr: cranial, Di: distal, Pr: proximal, Ve: ventral, and *: probe orientation and indication marker. The yellow scale represents the depth of the ultrasound image in centimeters and the focus zone (⧖).
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