Dynamic Ultrasonographic Measurement of Passive Coxofemoral Joint Laxity in Puppies

A new method of dynamic ultrasonographic evaluation of passive coxofemoral joint laxity was used to examine a total of 30 greyhound (n=13) and nongreyhound (n=17) puppies. Puppies were evaluated sonographically at four, six, eight, 12, 16, and 26 weeks of age. The coxofemoral joints were distracted manually, and the femoral head displacements were measured during distraction. The greyhounds had significantly smaller (p less than 0.01) maximum distraction distance (mean±standard deviation [SD], 0.11±0.04 cm) than nongreyhound puppies (mean±SD, 0.26±0.10 cm). In six-to eight-week-old puppies, the maximum distraction distance was correlated significantly (p of 0.0001, adjusted correlation coefficient [r²] of 0.27) with stress radiographic indices. Coxofemoral joints interpreted as being abnormal on hip-extended radiographs taken at one year of age were associated significantly (p of 0.0001) with higher maximum distraction distances in six- to eight-week-old puppies.