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Conference abstract2016

Comparison of clinical examination results and radiography to diagnose feline osteoarthritis

Stadig, Sarah; Lundström, Linda; Ley, Charles; Bergh, Anna

Abstract

A31 Comparison of clinical examination results and radiography to diagnose feline osteoarthritis Sarah Stadig1, Linda Lundström2, Charles Ley1, Anna Bergh3 1Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden, 2Hälsinge Small Animal Clinic, Hudiksvall, Sweden, 3Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden Correspondence: Sarah Stadig ‑ sarah.stadig@slu.se Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 2016, 58(Suppl 2):A31 Background: Diagnosing chronic pain and physical disability caused by osteoarthritis (OA) in cats is a challenge. Currently, the diagnosis is based on a combination of the cat´s medical history, information from the cat owner, clinical examination and radiography. However, the absence of radiographic signs indicating OA does not equal a joint free from pathological changes causing pain. Objectives: The objective was to compare the results from clinical examination with the radiographic findings in a group of cats with OA. Materials and methods: Nineteen cats were diagnosed as osteoarthritic based on their medical history, the owners´ information and findings from the clinical examination. The cats were sedated (medetomidine and butorphanol) and the joints that had pathological findings on the clinical examination were radiographed. The right elbow was radiographed as a reference. Results: On the clinical examination 63 joints out of 228 had pathological findings (Table 6). Of the 63 joints, 32 (51%) had radiographic findings of OA. Conclusions: Only every second joint that had pathological findings on clinical examination had radiographic findings indicating OA. This discrepancy is either caused by findings not detected by radiography, or by the cats experiencing discomfort during the clinical examination. There is need for improved diagnostic tools that can easily be used in a clinical setting.

Published in

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica Supplementum
2016, Volume: 58, number: Suppl 2: 85, pages: 114-115
Publisher: Biomed Central

Conference

9th international symposium on veterinary rehabilitation and physical therapy