🔍 Key Findings
- Dogs with MPL had significantly shallower femoral trochlear grooves compared to controls, based on CT-measured femoral trochlear groove angle (FTGA).
- FTGA >134° in small breeds (SB) and >128° in medium/large breeds (MLB) were associated with MPL and can serve as surgical thresholds for considering trochleoplasty.
- FTA and FTRIA measurements were less reliable, showing lower sensitivity/specificity than FTGA.
- Inter-rater reliability for FTGA was excellent (ICC > 0.9), supporting its use in clinical decision-making.
- FTGA differed significantly between SB and MLB dogs, suggesting anatomical variation influences MPL predisposition.
- Dogs with MPL but with FTGA below threshold may not benefit from trochleoplasty, supporting individualized surgical planning.
- CT provides more precise and reproducible evaluation of trochlear morphology than radiography or ultrasound.
- The study introduces a CT protocol using P25 and P50 reference points for consistent FTGA measurement.
