Small Animal Pelvis and Hind Limb

1. Small Animal Pelvis and Hind Limb Radiology

2. Pelvis • Lateral view • Patient is in lateral recumbency with side of interest closest to cassette. • Femurs should be kept parallel to cassette. • Leg closest to cassette should be pulled slightly cranial and leg on top should be pulled slightly caudal. • View should include entire pelvis and portion of lumbar spine and femurs. • Pelvis should be centered on cassette.

3. Normal Pelvis Lateral View

4. Dye view

5. Pelvis • Ventrodorsal view • Frog Leg projection • Suitable when pelvic trauma is suspected. • Minimal stress and tension are placed on the pelvis and hip joints in this projection. • Patient is in dorsal recumbency and pelvic limbs can assume a normal, flexed position. • Limbs should be positioned identically.

6. Frog Leg projection

7. Pelvis • Ventrodorsal View • Extended Projection • Standard for evaluating hip joints for hip dysplasia. • Symmetry and precision is vital for this view. • Sedation is generally required (OFA certification). • Patient is in dorsal recumbency. • Tarsal joints are grasped firmly and rotated in to one another.

8. Positioning continued • 1. Femurs are parallel to each other • 2. Both patellae are centered between the femoral condyles. • 3. Pelvis is without rotation; the obturator foramens, hip joints, hemipelvises, and sacroiliac joints appear as a mirror image. • 4. The tail is secured with tape (if necessary) between the femurs. • 5. Field of view includes pelvis, femurs, and stifle joints.

9. Positioning for extended view

11. Distracted or PennHIP method • Refers to a specific diagnostic technique of hip laxity information. • More reliable indication of hip laxity than extended view. • Stress radiographic procedure with 3 views (compression, standard extended, and distraction view). • To perform this method, veterinarian or technician must be certified.

12. Compressed view

13. Distracted Positioning View

16. Femur • Lateral view • Patient is in lateral recumbency with affected limb closest to cassette. • Opposite limb is abducted and rotated out of line of the x-ray beam. • Should include hip joint, femur, and stifle joint.

17. Femur

18. Femur • Craniocaudal View • Patient is in dorsal recumbency with limb of interest extended caudally. • Proper alignment has patella between two femoral condyles. • View should include hip joint, femur, and stifle joint.

20. Stifle Joint • Caudocranial View • Positioned in sternal recumbency with affected limb pulled into position of maximum extension. • Opposite limb may be elevated to help control the lateral rotation of the stifle joint under examination. • May also do craniocaudal view.

23. Stifle • Lateral View • Patient is placed in lateral recumbency with affected joint placed and centered on the cassette. • Stifle joint should be in a natural, slightly flexed position.

24. Stifle

25. Stifle Joint • Skyline Projection of Patella (Sunrise View) • Demonstrates changes that can occur to patella and femoral trochlear groove. • Patient is in lateral recumbency with the opposite limb down on the table. • Affected limb should be in a fully flexed position. • Cassette is placed behind stifle joint, vertically, and a horizontal x-ray beam is centered to the patella.

27. Tibia and Fibula • Lateral View • Patient is in lateral recumbency with affected limb on the cassette. • Stifle should be slightly flexed and maintained in true lateral position. • Opposite limb pulled cranially or caudally out of x-ray beam. • View should include stifle joint, tibia and fibula, and tarsal joint.

29. Tibia and Fibula • Caudocranial View • Patient is in sternal recumbency with affected limb extended caudally. • Tibia and fibula are centered on the cassette. • Should be in true caudocranial position so that the patella is placed between the two femoral condyles. • View should contain stifle joint, tibia and fibula and tarsal joints.

30. Tarsus • Lateral View • Patient is in lateral recumbency • Tarsus is in a natural, slightly flexed position and centered on the cassette. • Tarsus must remain in true lateral postion • Opposite leg should be pulled cranially out of x-ray beam.

32. Tarsus • Plantardorsal View • Placed in sternal recumbency with affected limb extended as for the caudocranial view of tibia and fibula. • Tarsus is centered on cassette.

33. Tarsus • Dorsoplantar View • Placed in sternal recumbency with affected limb extended cranially alongside the body.

34. Metatarsus-Phalanges • Lateral View • Patient in lateral recumbency with the affected metatarsus centered on the cassette. • Opposite limb is pulled caudally or cranially out of view of x-ray beam. • Joint is positioned in a natural flexed position. • View should include tarsal joint, metatarsal and phalanges

35. Metatarsus-Phalanges • Dorsoplantar and Plantardorsal Views • Positioned similarly to those of tarsus.