THE QUADRICEPS-ANGLE IN RADIOGRAPHY AND M AGNETIC-RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY - A PARAMETER TO OBJECTIFY SOFT-TISSUE AND BONE DEFORMITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONGENITAL DISLOCATION OF THE PATELLA
S. Kaiser et al., THE QUADRICEPS-ANGLE IN RADIOGRAPHY AND M AGNETIC-RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY - A PARAMETER TO OBJECTIFY SOFT-TISSUE AND BONE DEFORMITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONGENITAL DISLOCATION OF THE PATELLA, Kleintierpraxis, 42(12), 1997, pp. 953
Diverse bone and soft tissue deformities found with congenital disloca
tion of the patella in dogs provoke a lateral deviation of traction of
the m. quadriceps femoris. That deviation of traction can be determin
ed by measuring the quadriceps-angle (Q-angle) with radiographic techn
iques. Magnetic resonance tomography verifies the radiographic Q-angle
. The average Q-angle of the extended hind limb in healthy dogs is a m
edial angle of 10 degrees. Angulatory deformities and rotatory instabi
lities enlarge the Q-angle, i.e. the dislocation force of patella. Thu
s, in condition with clinical examination, guidelines for diagnosis an
d the following therapy and prognosis can be deduced.