Computed Tomographic Measurement Method for Morphoanatomical Comparison of Femur, Tibia, and Patella in Cats with and without Medial Patellar Luxation

Abstract

Objectives The aims of this study are to describe a computed tomographic (CT) measurement method of feline femoral, tibial, and patellar conformation, and to compare these measurements between a cat population diagnosed with medial patellar luxation (MPL) and cats without MPL. Materials and Methods Eleven measurements were performed by two observers, including anatomical lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA), femoral trochlear width (FTW) and femoral trochlear depth (FTD), anteversion angle of the femoral neck, patellar length, patellar width, patellar height, patellar volume, mechanical medial proximal tibial angle, tibial torsion angle, and tibial tuberosity displacement. Mean and standard deviation differences between the groups were statistically assessed. Intraobserver and interobserver interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. Results The aLDFA was significantly higher in the MPL II compared with the control and MPL III. The FTW was significantly larger in the MPL III than in the control or the MPL II group. The FTD in the control group was significantly larger than in the MPL II and III groups. The TTA of the control group was significantly smaller than the MPL II and III. The intraobserver ICC was high at 64%, and the interobserver ICC was high at 36% of the measurements. Clinical Significance This study identified shallower FTD and increased TTA in cats diagnosed with MPL. The TTA difference was less than 5 degrees and FTD was less than 1 mm. The findings provide information on feline pelvic limb morphology. However, the differences between the two populations are small.