Static Posturography: A New Perspective in the Assessment of Lameness in a Canine Model

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the static posturography in dogs as a useful tool for diagnosis of lameness by means of the use of a pressure platform. For this purpose, a series of different parameters (pressure distribution, area of support, mean pressure, maximum pressure and statokinesiograms) were obtained from five lame dogs with unilateral elbow osteoarthritis treated with plasma rich in growth factors. Data were obtained before and 3 months after treatment, and results were compared with a control group of sound dogs of similar conformation. Significant differences were found in the above mentioned parameters between sound and lame limbs. Improvement after 3 months of treatment was also detected, demonstrating that this multi-parametric technique is an effective and reliable method for the assessment of lameness in dogs.

Posturography and dynamic pedobarography in lame dogs with elbow dysplasia and cranial cruciate ligament rupture

“…Compared with humans, this study with dogs reflects great differences in statokinesiograms, since the ellipse that contains COP migrations revealed a dominant laterolateral orientation as previously reported [ 19 ], whilst, in bipedal support of human species, the ellipse has its longer axe in the antero-posterior sense [ 35 ]. This fact could be explained because quadupedy in dogs implies in the stance a bigger distance between limbs in the craniocaudal axis than the laterolateral and, thus, a greater stability in the longitudinal sense.…”

“…At the moment of redaction for the present study, only a report dealing with statokinesiography in dogs [ 19 ] has been found; on the other hand, pedobarographic studies are very scarce and limited to static recordings [ 20 , 24 , 30 ]. In contrast, multiple publications can be found regarding these techniques in human medicine, rehabilitation, and sport fields [ 31 – 33 ].…”

“…These changes determine an abnormal distribution of pressure within the paws during the support phase, which can be evaluated through pedobarography studies not only while standing still (static pedobarography) but also while walking (dynamic pedobarography) [ 18 ]. In addition, due to the elastic nature of the dog’s pads, paw area increases as pressure increases [ 19 , 20 ].…”

“…Studies of pressure platforms are increasing in veterinary medicine, although the majority describe force-related data in healthy [ 20 , 21 ] and lame dogs with CCLR [ 6 ], hip osteoarthritis [ 22 ], or dogs with total hip replacement [ 23 ]. More recently, pressure-dependent characteristics have started to be assessed as a valuable factor to assess lameness via symmetry index or static pedobarography [ 19 , 24 ]. Regarding postural changes in lame dogs, only statokinesiograms have been included in a single report [ 19 ], and no studies involving dynamic pedobarography could be found.…”

“…More recently, pressure-dependent characteristics have started to be assessed as a valuable factor to assess lameness via symmetry index or static pedobarography [ 19 , 24 ]. Regarding postural changes in lame dogs, only statokinesiograms have been included in a single report [ 19 ], and no studies involving dynamic pedobarography could be found.…”