German Shepherd Forum

[eichenluft]

Vets are not the only ones who can learn to read hip x-rays. Everyone can, I've become pretty good at it, from looking at lots of them. I'd like to keep this thread going, with different x-rays, and comments, questions, 'critiques' about them - guess the results, then the poster can give the results. Please allow enough time between x-ray submissions, to allow people to look, compare, give comments, guess the rating (and why) and learn. Here's the first one -
Three year old GSD male.


_________________
Eichenluft Working German Shepherd Dogs
home of V-Eagle v Eichenluft Schh3, FH,IPO3,KKl-1lbz,OFA Good.
4 Eichenluft Dogs competed in 2005 Schh3 National Championships!
Over 40 working-titled Eichenluft dogs.
http://workinggermanshepherd.com

[blitzen]

OK, I'll stick my neck out and say I think this dog received an OFA excellent. Over half of each head is seated deeply and tightly in the socket, the nurberg angle looks right although that is hard for me to eyeball without using a measuring instrument. The balls are perfectly round and the edges of the acetabulum show no signs of wear. There is no thickening of the necks.

Looks like a perfect set of hips to me. The only reason I can see that he might get a good instead of an excellent is that the left hip could be seated a tad deeper as compared to the right, but I think that's the result of the positioning of the xray.
_________________
"What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?...Or does it explode?" - Langston Hughes

[JacnJoe06]

Great thread Molly!!!!!!

It looks like the right hip (Im assuming that the xray is from the underside) has a small gap..

Mmmm OFA good?????? or A normal
_________________
Layla Belle V Prinzessin

[Hawiian2]

This is a great idea for a thread! Hats off to you too.
One question
How did you scan the X Ray to jpg?
_________________


When I die I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my Grandfather -- not screaming like the passengers in his car.

[eichenluft]

Thanks, I like my idea of an x-ray thread too. Blitzen is exactly right (good job, Blitzen!!!) - the left hip could look better only due to positioning. This dogs' hips are just about as perfect as it is possible to be - and he indeed went OFA Excellent at 3 years old. You can check OFA database (Viking vom Eichenluft) to verify that if you like. Everything Blitzen said is right on the money. Next?

ps to get x-ray pictures on to jpg you have to have a picture of them. This particular one was taken by a digital x-ray machine. But you can also hang the x-rays up on a light board at the vet, and take digital pictures of them and scan them, or load them onto the computer that way.

molly
_________________
Eichenluft Working German Shepherd Dogs
home of V-Eagle v Eichenluft Schh3, FH,IPO3,KKl-1lbz,OFA Good.
4 Eichenluft Dogs competed in 2005 Schh3 National Championships!
Over 40 working-titled Eichenluft dogs.
http://workinggermanshepherd.com

[lonewulf]

I was putting together this post so that this could be more educational:

The OFA evaluate 9 criteria.



There are approximately 9 different anatomic areas of the hip that are evaluated (Figure 1).

1. Craniolateral acetabular rim : Should be sharp and clearly defined. No irregularities or spurring.

2. Cranial acetabular margin : Should be smooth and symettrically curved

3. Femoral head (hip ball) : Should be spherical and convexty should smoothly fit the acetabular socket. A line drawn between point 1 and point 6 should encompass between 50% to 66% of the area defined by a line drawn between point 8 and point 6.

4. Fovea capitus (normal flattened area on hip ball) : Should be well-defined. A ligament called the ligamentum capitis connects point 4 to point 5 and serves to anchor the head in the socket and still permit rotational movenet of the head within the socket.

5. Acetabular notch : See # 4 above.

6. Caudal acetabular rim : Should be sharp and clearly defined. No irregularities or spurring.

7. Dorsal acetabular margin : Should be sharp and clearly defined. No irregularities or spurring.

8. Junction of femoral head and neck : head and neck should be fused and the neck should not show any demineralization of evidence of weakness in bone.

9. Trochanteric fossa : Line drawn down the midpoint of the femoral head to the midpoint of the trochanteric fossa should make a 130 degree angle with a line drawn doine the midline of the long axis of the femoral shaft.

The radiologist is concerned with deviations in these structures from the breed normal. Congruency and confluence of the hip joint (degree of fit) are also considered which dictate the conformation differences within normal when there is an absence of radiographic findings consistent with HD. The radiologist will grade the hips with one of seven different physical (phenotypic) hip conformations: normal which includes excellent, good, or fair classifications, borderline or dysplastic which includes mild, moderate, or severe classifications.

Seven classifications are needed in order to establish heritability information (indexes) for a given breed of dog. Definition of these phenotypic classifications are as follows:

Excellent
Good
Fair
Borderline
Mild
Moderate
Severe


Now if you analyse the Xray put up by Molly. You can see:



In the above photograph the alignment of the spine should be parallel to the two outer white lines. The ideal mid axis is shown in yellow while the actual axis is shown by the white.

It is extremely difficult to get an ideal alignment. The above picture is about as close as most people will get. But when analysing the film you have to first look at the alignment and adjust your interpretation based on the alignment. Another point is the horizontal yellow line across the tops of the greater trochanter of the femur must make 90 degree angles with the outer white lines. In this case due to the slight misalignment the horizontal yellow line slices just beneath the top of the left greater trochanter for it to make it's 90 degree angle. This is a 2nd test of alignment.

Once the alignment tests are done then you can look at the Xray itself.



Line A goes from the dorsal (upper) lip of the acetabulum to the ventral (lower) lip. This line when drawn shows that 66% or more of the femoral head is within the cup of the acetabulum. This is especially so on the right side. On the left side the depth appears to be slightly less, but BEWARE! This is due to the very slight misalignment of the long axis of the animal. This is why doing the alignment test first is so important since it will throw the cup estimates off target. In this case the dogs left hip is actually at least as equal to the right.

The angle between lines B & C are also measured since the repesent a measure of the angulation of the femoral neck vis-a-vis the shaft. In this case the hip has near perfect angulations.



Lastly the contour of the acetabular cup is looked at (Red Arrows) and the coresponding contour and fit of the femoral head is examined (Yellow arrows)

No irregularities are seen and the complementarity of shape and fit between cup and head is excellent.

THUS THIS XRAY RATES OFA-EXCELLENT!
_________________
The Power of the Teacher lies in the submission of the student...
www.vombhairav.com
V (USA) Juneau vom Haus Tyson SchH 3 x 6; Kkl-1; HOT; G- NE REgionals 2008; 2008 USA Nationals competitor
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/picturegallery/6551.html

[lonewulf]

Here is one set for review: This is not as good quality a picture as Molly's since this is snapshot of the Xray on a light-box. Still the elements for analysis are there.



Sorry for the huge size. I did ask photobucket to resize it but somehow it didn't work.... HELP
_________________
The Power of the Teacher lies in the submission of the student...
www.vombhairav.com
V (USA) Juneau vom Haus Tyson SchH 3 x 6; Kkl-1; HOT; G- NE REgionals 2008; 2008 USA Nationals competitor
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/picturegallery/6551.html

[blitzen]

Hot damn!!! Is there a prize?
_________________
"What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?...Or does it explode?" - Langston Hughes

[saddlebred16]

I work at a vet clinic, so Ill see if I can get permission from some clients to post up some example x-rays. We see the full spectrum of hips there!
_________________
Jen
UCD, UCH, SG Rebel, BH, CGC, 2/3 of CD, 2x Total Dog, TDI, DNA
UCH Bullet, CGC, TDI, DNA
SG Laika, CGC, TDI, DNA
Nemo, CGC, TDI

Waiting over the bridge:
UCD Ranger, BH, SD, CGC, TDI 11/21/04-8/7/09
Forever would have been too short

[Sunshine]

Ravi, you sure are tops. Molly what a great thread!!!
_________________
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
My sunshine doesn't come from the skies, it comes from the love in my dog's eyes.
Unknown

[Diana]

Here are 2 sets of x-rays from the same dog - the first from 11/2005 the second 11/2006





2nd x-ray submitted to OFA - result Moderate dysplasia

[eichenluft]

hold on, slow down - don't post new x-rays until ones are looked at/talked about - Ravi posted some. What does everyone think about Ravi's set of x-rays? I think - good. They are seated well, femur heads are round, the right femur head looks a little thicker then the left. I could see some "fuzzies" but think it is the picture not being clear. The positioning is good.

The second/third x-rays - not good. The first set show squared femur heads with edges, with thickened necks, and seating that is not deep, though they are even and positioning is good. Second set from the same dog confirm that the seating has become worse, edges/squaring has become worse - thickening worse - I would guess the first set went "moderate", or mild at best - and the second went moderate.

molly
_________________
Eichenluft Working German Shepherd Dogs
home of V-Eagle v Eichenluft Schh3, FH,IPO3,KKl-1lbz,OFA Good.
4 Eichenluft Dogs competed in 2005 Schh3 National Championships!
Over 40 working-titled Eichenluft dogs.
http://workinggermanshepherd.com

[JacnJoe06]

Is the dog x rayed from laying on the table or on there back?????

So when looking at the xrays is the left hip the left side of the dog???
_________________
Layla Belle V Prinzessin

[Aleit]

excellent topic I love looking at the x rays!!
_________________
“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.�
~ Maya Angelou

[eichenluft]

they are laying on their back and you are looking down - the hip on your right is the dogs' left hip. Usually they are marked - if you look at the first x-ray posted, there is a large "L" on the x-ray, meaning that is the left hip.

molly
_________________
Eichenluft Working German Shepherd Dogs
home of V-Eagle v Eichenluft Schh3, FH,IPO3,KKl-1lbz,OFA Good.
4 Eichenluft Dogs competed in 2005 Schh3 National Championships!
Over 40 working-titled Eichenluft dogs.
http://workinggermanshepherd.com

[eichenluft]

would like to have the run-down on Ravi's x-ray - what was the result, and why?

molly
_________________
Eichenluft Working German Shepherd Dogs
home of V-Eagle v Eichenluft Schh3, FH,IPO3,KKl-1lbz,OFA Good.
4 Eichenluft Dogs competed in 2005 Schh3 National Championships!
Over 40 working-titled Eichenluft dogs.
http://workinggermanshepherd.com

[lonewulf]

To ensure that this is a maximal learning opportunity, let us review the Xray of the OFA-excellent rated dog submitted earlier with the film submitted by Diana which was rated Moderate Dysplasia.
First the OFA Excellent:



Now the OFA: Moderate Dysplasia



The differences are relatively clear between the two on every aspect after compensating for alignment. The film quality of both Xrays are near equal which makes these examples very good for comparative review.

Notice:
1. The extent of the head within the cup in both
2. The Nurberg angles between the femoral neck and the femoral shaft of both
3. The contour and fit of the cup and head between both.
_________________
The Power of the Teacher lies in the submission of the student...
www.vombhairav.com
V (USA) Juneau vom Haus Tyson SchH 3 x 6; Kkl-1; HOT; G- NE REgionals 2008; 2008 USA Nationals competitor
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/picturegallery/6551.html

[lonewulf]

By the way the Xray posted earlier by me was rated as OFA: Good and is of my dog Juneau vom Haus Tyson.

Check out his certificate at:

http://shepherdcentral.14.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1616

Good read Molly!
_________________
The Power of the Teacher lies in the submission of the student...
www.vombhairav.com
V (USA) Juneau vom Haus Tyson SchH 3 x 6; Kkl-1; HOT; G- NE REgionals 2008; 2008 USA Nationals competitor
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/picturegallery/6551.html

[ZalDante]

Molly...thankyou for starting such a GREAT thread...and Ravi....as always your diagrams and such are most helpful. With hips being such a "SERIOUS" issue within our dogs breed...this sort of information is most valuable to all the owners and I feel the more u know the better for ourselves and our dogs. Thankyou so much guys I hope everyone takes advantage of this and gives their input.....and if u feel u dont know enough.....remember the only dumb questions are the ones that are not asked. Lets keep it going!!!!
Kim
_________________
Haus Vonzal German Shepherds
www.hausvonzal.com

[BettyL]

Here's one of my dogs xrays

Awesome thread!!

Forgot to add....xray taken at 6 mos old
_________________
~~Betty~~

Home to:
Bismarch, BH,CGC, TT, TD
Frieda
Taser, BH, AD, CGC , TT and 2/3 of the CD
Cayman vom Nordsturm, SchH 2, BH, AD,CGC, TT
Carlo vom Tauglichkeit, BH, AD