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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2022

Degree of osteophyte formation seen on radiographs provides useful prognostic information for dogs with cruciate ligament disease

Engdahl, Karolina; Boge, Gudrun Seeberg; Ingman, Jessica; Naslund, Veronica; Ley, Charles J.

Abstract

BackgroundConcurrent osteoarthritis is generally present in the stifle joints of dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD), but it is not known if the degree of osteoarthritis-related changes affects the prognosis. Development of osteophytes is a key radiographic feature of osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the degree of osteophyte formation seen on radiographs and CCLD-related euthanasia in dogs with CCLD. MethodsA retrospective cohort study including 226 dogs treated for CCLD at two university animal hospitals was performed. Clinical and follow-up information was retrieved, and stifle radiographs taken during the 31 days before treatment for the CCLD were graded for osteophyte formation by three veterinary radiologists. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was applied to assess the association between the degree of osteophyte formation and CCLD-related euthanasia. ResultsAn association between the degree of osteophyte formation and CCLD-related euthanasia was found, with increased osteophyte formation associated with an increased hazard of CCLD-related euthanasia (hazard ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.11, p = 0.01). LimitationsNo clinical assessment of the outcome was performed. ConclusionThe findings suggest that evaluation of stifle radiographs for osteophyte formation could provide useful prognostic information for dogs with CCLD.

Published in

Veterinary Record
2022,
Publisher: WILEY

Authors' information

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences
Boge, Gudrun Seeberg
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, University Animal Hospital
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Science

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.2478

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/120567