Evaluation of bone deformities of the femur, tibia, and patella in Toy Poodles with medial patellar luxation using computed tomography

Abstract

SummaryObjectives: To evaluate morphological parameters of the femur, tibia, and patella in Toy Poodles with medial patellar luxation (MPL) using three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) and to compare these parameters between radiography and CT.Methods: Thirty-five hindlimbs of Toy Poodles were divided into normal and grade 2 and 4 MPL groups. The anatomical and mechanical lateral proximal femoral angle, anatomical and mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA, mLDFA), femoral varus angle (FVA), inclination of the femoral head angle, procurvation angle, anteversion angle (AA), frontal angle of the femoral neck, mechanical medial proximal or distal tibial angle, mechanical cranial proximal or distal tibial angle, tibial plateau angle, tibial torsion angle (TTA), Z angle, relative tibial tuberosity width, ratio of the medial distance of tibial tuberosity to the proximal tibial width (MDTT/PTW), patella size, and the patellar ligament length: patellar length (L:P) ratio were evaluated on radiography and 3D CT.Results: The aLDFA, mLDFA, FVA, and TTA were significantly larger and the AA, MDTT/ PTW, and patella were significantly smaller in the grade 4 MPL group. There were significant differences in many parameters between imaging tools, and CT was considered less susceptible to potential artefacts and rotational deformities.Clinical significance: Toy Poodles with grade 4 MPL had significant femoral varus deformity, medial displacement of the tibial tuberosity, internal torsion of the proximal tibia, and hypoplasia of the patella.