Radiographic Evaluation of Fractured and Non-Fractured Metacarpal Bones in Holstein Calves Subjected to Pulling during Dystocia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the transverse cortical cross-sections of the metacarpal bones of newborn calves subjected to pulling during dystocia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, radiographs of 63 metacarpal bones (35 fractured and 28 non-fractured) of 50 Holstein calves were evaluated in this study. According to the declaration of the owners, all calves were pulled by their metacarpal bones during parturition.The periosteal and endosteal diameters, medial and lateral cortical thicknesses and dorsal and palmar cortical thicknesses were measured. Furthermore, the total, cortical and medullary areas of each section, moments of inertia on the X and Y axes, major and minor principal moments of inertia, angle of rotation of the axis and polar moment of inertia were calculated. The data were analysed by sex and body weight. RESULTS: Body weight did not affect the bone status. However, females had a 6.5 times higher risk of bone fracture as compared with the males (p = 0.001). The lateral cortical thickness of the fractured bones in the female animals was thinner than that of the male animals (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: These results can be used to improve dystocia manipulations, encourage the development of new tools for dystocia and the treatment of metacarpal fractures in calves.

Canal Flare Index in the Canine Femur Is Influenced by the Measurement Method.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated whether differences exist among the canal flare index (CFI) values obtained by different calculation methods in the veterinary literature. STUDY DESIGN: The endosteal widths were measured from radiographic images of canine cadaveric femora. Three different formulae were used to calculate the CFI. The CFILT-M was the ratio of endosteal width at the medial aspect of the lesser trochanter (LT) to the midshaft (M), while the CFILT-I was the ratio of LT to the isthmus (I). The CFIPLT-I was the ratio of endosteal width at the proximal aspect of the lesser trochanter (PLT) and the I. The widths at each level and the CFI calculation methods were compared. Using Rashmir-Raven's method, the femora were typed as stovepipe, normal and champagne fluted. The limits of agreement were also evaluated. RESULTS: The endosteal width at the proximal aspect of the lesser trochanter was 12% wider than at the medial aspect and 8% wider at the midshaft than at the isthmus. The CFILT-M was less than CFILT-I and CFIPLT-I by 9 and 20%, respectively. By Rashmir-Raven's classification, the CFILT-M method provided 18% stovepipe, 79% normal and 3% champagne fluted femora. The CFILT-I method showed the stovepipe, the normal and the champagne fluted as 6, 82 and 12%, respectively. The CFIPLT-I method classified the femora either normal (55%) or champagne fluted (45%). The comparison of CFILT-M with the other methods using Bland-Altman analysis showed lower mean difference for the CFILT-I than the CFIPLT-I. CONCLUSION: The level of width measurements at proximal femora might have an impact on the CFI values, likewise, preoperative planning procedures and the selection of a stem type in total hip arthroplasty.

Effects of Tibial Rotational-guided Growth on the Geometries of Tibial Plateaus and Menisci in Rabbits.

BACKGROUND: There are studies on the use of oblique plate over epiphyses for rotational deformities but the effects of this method on bone are not yet known. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect and rebound effect of rotational-guided growth on the geometries of the tibial plateaus and menisci in a rabbit model of tibial axial rotation. METHODS: Thirty male rabbits were 6 weeks old when medial and lateral plates were applied to the proximal tibias of the left side. After 4 weeks, 15 rabbits were euthanized (group 1), and the plates from the tibias of the remaining 15 rabbits (group 2) were removed. The rabbits in group 2 were euthanized 4 weeks later. RESULTS: In the rabbits of group 1, the most striking differences were a decrease in the lateral tibial slope (from 28.3 to 10.8 degrees) and decrease in the ratio of the lateral plateau covered by the meniscus (from 71.9% to 61.3%). After removing the plates (group 2), the observed values of the rebound effects were 25.9 and 29.8 degrees for the lateral tibial slope, and 76.5% and 77.2% for the ratio of the lateral plateau covered by the meniscus. However, the meniscal geometries continued to change. CONCLUSIONS: The rotational-guided growth provided by using plates caused a change in the tibial plateau geometry, and the rebound effect, except in the meniscal geometry, was observed after removing the plates in the growing period of the rabbits. Rotational-guided growth for the restoration of tibial axial rotation deformities may be suggested after determining the clinical effects of the increasing meniscal variables. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Clinical relevance: the rotational-guided growth needs close follow-up because of possible changes in anatomy of the bone.

Proximal and distal alignment of normal canine femurs: A morphometric analysis.

Many researchers are interested in femoral conformation because most orthopaedic problems of the long bones occur in the femur and its joints. The neck-shaft (NSA) and the anteversion (AVA) angles are good predictors for understanding the orientation of the proximal end of the femur. The varus (aLDFA) and procurvatum (CDFA) angles have also been used to understand the orientation of the distal end of the femur. The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between the proximal and distal angles of the femur and to compare the distal femoral angles in male and female dogs in order to investigate the sexual dimorphism. The measurements of normal CDFAs, which have not been previously reported, may also provide a database of canine distal femoral morphology. A total of 75 cleaned healthy femora from different breeds or mixed breed of dogs were used. The three-dimensional images were reconstructed from computed tomographic images. The AVA, NSA, aLDFA and CDFA were measured on the 3D images. The correlation coefficients were calculated among the measured angles. The distal femoral angles were also compared between male and female femora. The 95% confidence intervals of the AVA and the NSA were calculated to be 24.22°-29.50° and 144.97°-147.50°, respectively. The 95% confidence intervals of the aLDFA and the CDFA for all studied dogs were 92.62°-94.08° and 89.09°-91.94°, respectively. The NSA showed no correlation with either the aLDFA or CDFA. There was a weak inverse correlation between the AVA and CDFA and a weak positive correlation between the AVA and aLDFA. The differences in the aLDFA and CDFA measurements between male and female dog were not significant. In conclusion, femoral version, regardless of the plane, might have little influence on distal femoral morphology in normal dogs. Besides this, there is no evidence of a sexual dimorphism in the varus and procurvatum angles of the dog distal femur. The data from this study may be used in both orthopaedic studies and for clinical applications related to the distal femur of dogs.

Geometry of the femoral condyles in dogs.

The stifle joint is one of the most important joints in dogs from the orthopaedic point of view. The aim of this study was to document the morphometric values of femoral condyles, given the close relationship between the shape and function of an anatomic structure. The left femora of 16 mid-sized dogs were used, and diameter and nine radii as well as cranial and caudal bow lengths from each condyle were measured. The photographs were taken of the distal femora from both sides. All measurements were obtained from these images by using software. Additionally, the rotation angle was calculated from the intercondylar distance and the difference between lateral and medial bow lengths. In addition to the rotation angle, the difference of diameter and nine radii between the lateral and medial condyles was determined. All radii except getting at 90° were significantly different between the medial and lateral condyles. The greatest values were determined in the caudal part of the medial condyle. This results the smaller contact area and a greater pressure on the underlying surface, and therefore the meniscus and articular cartilage of the caudal part of the medial side suggests the possibility of a risk of injury as the stifle joint flexes. The mean rotational angle of the femur was also calculated to be 2.18° laterally and 1.02° medially in the caudal and cranial parts of condyles, respectively. The result of this study showed that the lateral and medial condyles had different shapes in canine femur.