Welcome to a VIA Online Learning Tutorial: This site has been developed to provide learning materials to assist you to make complete and comprehensive radiographic examinations of animals.
Select Chapter:
1. OVERVIEW
2. SCORING SYSTEM [print this page]
3. APPLICATION
4. PENNHIP
5. BREED AVERAGE SCORES
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The categories being scored are:
Norberg Angle (NA): gives a measured assessment of several features; the degree of congruence between the femoral head (FH) and acetabulum; the length of the cranial acetabular edge (CrAE), which gives a relative indication of acetabular depth and a measure of coxofemoral subluxation (laxity). A score of 0-6 is given, based on the angle made by a line drawn between the centres of the femoral heads and a second line drawn from the femoral head to the cranial edge of the acetabulum on each side.
Subluxation (SL): is assessed by the degree of congruence between the femoral head and acetabular articular surfaces and the location of the femoral head within the actetabulum. The general ‘fit’ of these two components is assessed by the relationship between the femoral head centre (FHC) and the underlying image of the dorsal acetabular edge (DAE). The cranial joint space is seen as a radiolucent shadow between the CrAE and adjacent cranial articular margin of the FH.
• SCORE OF 0 - the FHC must be medial to the DAE and the cranial joint space uniformly narrow, with the curve of the CrAE exactly following that of the FH.
• SCORE OF 1 - mild divergence of the cranial joint space, either medially or laterally, with the FHC remaining medial to the DAE.
• SCORE OF 2 - superimposition of the FHC on the DAE (with the FH in this position, the cranial joint space will inevitably diverge).
• SCORE OF 3 - The centre of the femoral head lies just lateral to the DAE
• SCORE OF 4 - includes a wide range of femoral head positions, with anything between less than one-half and more than one-quarter of the FH lying medial to the DAE.
• SCORE OF 5 - is given for severe degrees of subluxation.
• SCORE OF 6 - complete separation of the images of the two components.
Cranial acetabular edge (CrAE): minor alterations in the shape, contour and possibly the length of the CrAE are generally believed to be indicators of poor articular congruence, while more severe changes are clearly consequences of chronic instability, abnormal marginal wear and remodelling of the joint.
• SCORE OF 0 - the CrAE should be concave, uniformly curved and match exactly the contour of the adjacent femoral head with no lateral or medial divergence of the cranial joint space.
• SCORE OF 1 - minor flattening of the outer quarter of the CrAE with slight divergence of lateral joint space.
• SCORE OF 2 - the CrAE is flattened throughout most or all of its length and there is usually both medial and lateral joint space divergence.
• SCORE OF 3 - higher scores are given when there is positive evidence of abnormal wear and/or remodelling of the edge. Early change is manifested by slight bilabiation, which shows as cranial curvature of a small outer segment of the CrAE.
• SCORES OF 4 & 5 - are given to progressively more extensive bilabiation and cranial orientation of the edge.
• SCORE OF 6 – development of a steep cranial slope
Dorsal acetabular edge (DAE): the DAE forms a well defined interface which traverses the FH and extends a little beyond it cranially and caudally. The clarity with which it can be seen is highly variable, depending on radiographic technique.
• SCORE OF 1 - a minor change in the contour of the DAE, which is normally slightly curved. Small localised irregularities, seen only on radiographs of exceptionally high quality, are considered to be within normal limits.
• SCORE OF 2 - related to definitive pathological changes associated with degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), the smallest being minor exostosis, which is usually seen cranially.
• SCORE BETWEEN 3 & 6 - progressively increasing new bone formation accompanied by marginal wear of the edge, which leads to reduction in width of the articular surface and thus contributes to subluxation according to severity.
Cranial effective acetabular margin (CrEAM):
• SCORE OF 1 - the earliest detectable abnormalities of the CrEAM are either minor exostosis, usually in the form of a small, well modelled osteophyte, or slight ‘rounding off’ of the junction between the CrAE and DAE, which may be seen in the presence of a non-bilabiated CrAE.
• SCORE OF 2 - more advanced changes at the CrEAM are indicators of abnormal wear and must therefore be associated with articular instability. Initially, a small facet forms on the rim (margin), usually in conjunction with minor bilabiation of the CrAE. Exostosis may or may not be present.
• SCORES OF 3 TO 6 (depending on severity) - increasing secondary changes lead to the development of larger facets and exostoses, which can become massive and extend well up the shaft of the ilium.
Acetabular fossa (AF): it is well recognised that the acetabular fossa and notch are sites of bone proliferation in unstable hips. An impression of the amount of new bone present may be gained from the size and intensity of indistinctly marginated areas of increased opacity in the region of the caudomedial acetabulum and obliteration or partial obscuring of the normally clear radiolucent shadow which represents fat in the acetabular notch. Detectable bone deposition in the AF is almost always associated with marked subluxation and the amount tends to increase in proportion with the increase in the other radiographic hallmarks of secondary osteoarthritis. Objective numerical scoring of this criterion is difficult, but as changes are likely to be recorded only in dogs with a total score considerably higher than average, the importance of a high level of accuracy is diminished.
Caudal acetabular edge (CdAE): is the segment of the acetabulum which is subject to the widest range of normal radiographic variation. It is dependent to a large extent on the pelvis/film angle, but may also be influenced by individual differences in conformation. Radiographic abnormalities of the CdAEs are scored between 0 and 5 and changes are due mainly to exostosis, with signs of wear being apparent only in advanced cases.
• SCORE OF 1 - a small osteophyte on the CdAE.
• SCORE OF 2 - new bone localised laterally and medially adjacent to the acetabular notch.
• SCORES OF 3 TO 5 - are used to record progressively increasing bone proliferation which ultimately fills the notch and produces extensive remodelling.
Femoral head and neck exostosis (FH):
• SCORE OF 0 - the normal FH should have a smooth roundish profile but the shape may vary considerably.
• SCORE OF 1 - a well defined, vertically orientated ridge of new bone extending from the base of the neck towards the trochanteric fossa. Correct exposure and good radiographic detail are required to show this earliest recordable change.
• SCORE OF 2 - minor exostosis, visible on the ‘skyline’ at the lateral and/or medial margins
• SCORE OF 3 - is given when a distinct collar of new bone is visible around the articular margin.
• SCORES OF 4 TO 6 - denote increasing amounts of periarticular proliferation which at its most severe, extends to cover the femoral neck and fill the trochanteric fossa.
Femoral head recontouring: this criterion is used to record the extent to which the FH shape is altered as a consequence of instability. Thus, scores are likely to be awarded only in cases in which secondary changes are well established, when remodelling occurs as a result of the combined effects of periarticular new bone formation and loss of subchondral bone (eburnation) following total destruction of articular cartilage. Recontouring is difficult to evaluate numerically however,
• SCORE OF 1 - slight distortion of the outline of the FH
• SCORE OF 2 TO 5 - degrees of flattening and expansion of the articular contour
• SCORE OF 6 - permanent luxation in which the FH is grossly deformed, small and almost conical in shape.
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