Contents of Today's Veterinary Practice - JAN-FEB 2012

Today's Veterinary Practice provides comprehensive information to keep every small animal practitioner up to date on companion animal medicine and surgery as well as practice building and management.

Page 53 of 83

| SMALL ANIMAL PELVIC RADIOGRAPHY
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B
C
Figure 4. PennHip Radiographic Views (A) Routine extended-leg ventrodorsal radiograph of the pelvis; (B) compression and (C) distraction ventrodorsal radiographs of the pelvis. In C, the PennHip distractor has been applied to document joint laxity.
UÊ/hiÃÊl>ÃÌÊ«ÀojiVÌionÊÀiµÕiÀiÃÊÕÃiÊovÊ>ÊëiVi>liâi`Ê distraction frame apparatus that is made available to trained and certified PennHip members. Spe- cific details regarding PennHIP evaluation can be found at pennhip.org.
QUALITY CONTROL For quality control of any diagnostic image, keep a Ãim«liÊÎ-ÃÌi«Ê>««Ào>VhÊinÊmin`\ 1. Determine if the technique is appropriate. 2. Ascertain if the appropriate anatomy is present within the image.
Î°Ê hiVkÊÌhiÊVoÀÀiVÌÊ>n>ÌomiVÊ«oÃiÌionin}ÊvoÀÊl>ÌiÀ- ality and straightness.
Technique & Anatomy iÛinÊ Ìh>ÌÊ ÌhiÊ`iÃiÀi`Ê ÌiVhniµÕiÊh>ÃÊLiinÊ>ÌÌ>ini`]Ê
make sure that the appropriate anatomy is included: the lateral and ventrodorsal projections should include
A
the cranial aspect of the iliac crest, pelvis, coxofemoral joints, and the proximal tibia, including the stifle joints.
Patient Positioning Lateral Projection UÊThe transverse processes of the caudal lumbar vertebrae should be superimposed to determine if a patient is in a true lateral position. The right and left sides should form a single "Nike" swoosh Figure 5®°Ê
UÊ,imimLiÀÊÌh>ÌÊinÊÌhiÊl>À}iÀÊ`o}]Ê`ÕiÊÌoÊm>}niviV>- tion, the iliac crest and femur furthest away from the cassette or detector will appear larger than the recumbent side.
UÊThe ischia should be superimposed on the lateral projections; the dorsal acetabular rims should be superimposed.
Ventrodorsal Projection UÊ >VhÊV>Õ`>lÊlÕmL>ÀÊëinoÕÃÊ«ÀoViÃÃÊiÃÊÛiiÜi`Êin`-onÊ and has a distinct diamond or tear-drop shape.
UÊThe obturator foramina should be symmetrical in Ãh>«iÊ>n`ÊiµÕ>lÊinÊÃiâi°Ê
UÊThe femurs should be parallel to each other. UÊThe patellas should be superimposed over the distal femoral trochlear groove in a normal dog. If the dog or cat has luxation of the patella, the patella may be laterally or medially displaced rela- tive to the distal femur.
UÊThe lateral aspects of the ischiatic tuberosities will overlap evenly along the medial aspect of the «ÀoÝim>lÊvimÕÀÃÊFigures 2C]Ê«>}iÊ{9]Ê>n`Ê4A, «>}iÊx£®. ■
Figure 5. Superimposed transverse processes (arrow) depicting the "Nike" swoosh
52 Today's Veterinary Practice January/February 2012
FOV = field of view; OFA = Orthopedic Foundation for Animals; PennHIP = Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program