What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the accuracy of three radiographic techniques for assessing canine femoral morphology compared to CT scans.

June 8, 2026Open Access

Targeted radiographic projections provide reliable quantification of proximal and distal canine femoral morphology in the absence of computed tomography

SKSarah E. KahnMichigan State University DMDanielle M. MarturelloMichigan State University AWAmy B. West-SommerMichigan State University

Key Points

To evaluate the accuracy of three radiographic techniques for assessing canine femoral morphology compared to CT scans.
Candidates assessed from September 2024 to October 2025 with normal orthopedic examinations were enrolled.
Three radiographic techniques—extended limb, sitting position, and horizontal beam—were compared against CT scans for femoral angles.
Two investigators independently measured various femoral angles and compared results using statistical analysis.
Horizontal beam was most accurate for anatomic lateral proximal femoral angle, mechanical lateral proximal femoral angle, and anatomic lateral distal femoral angle, with no significant difference from CT scans.
Extended limb was most accurate for mechanical lateral distal femoral angle with statistically significant results.
High interobserver agreement was found for all measurements, with intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.8.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of 3 femoral craniocaudal radiographic techniques in assessment of femoral morphology using CT scans as the imaging modality of choice. Methods: Candidates were assessed from September 2024 through October 2025, and those with a normal orthopedic examination were enrolled. Extended limb, sitting position, and horizontal beam radiographs and CT scans were evaluated for frontal plane alignment, with the following measurements completed by 2 investigators independently: anatomic lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA), mechanical lateral distal femoral angle, anatomic lateral proximal femoral angle, and mechanical lateral proximal femoral angle. Angles were statistically compared (P 0.8 for all parameters). Conclusions: Proximal and distal canine femoral morphology can be reliably measured by specific radiographic views in the absence of CT. Clinical Relevance: In the absence of a CT scan, horizontal beam is recommended for accurate assessment of proximal femoral morphology in planning of total hip replacement and also demonstrated superiority when considering aLDFA measurements used for patellar luxation surgery planning.

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