Front Matter

362 Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

The diagnosis of HD is based on physical
examination and radiographic findings (Demko
& McLaughlin, 2005). Passive hip laxity can
be palpated in young dogs using the Ortolani
maneuver (Demko & McLaughlin, 2005;
Gatineau et al., 2012) (Figure 14.10). This test
may be inaccurate in dogs younger than
4 months, as maximal laxity increases between
the ages of 2 and 6 months (Smith et al., 1998;
Gatineau et al., 2012).
The sensitivity and specificity of a positive
Ortolani sign detected at 6 months for the
development of hip OA at 2 years has been
shown to be 100% and 50%, respectively
(Gatineau et al., 2012). In other words, all dogs
with hip OA at 2 years had a positive Ortolani
at 6 months, and half of the dogs with a positive
Ortolani at 6 months showed radiographic
signs of OA at 2 years. Furthermore, a negative

Ortolani sign at 6 months is significantly

predictive of a lack of OA at 2 years (Gatineau

et al., 2012).

In mature dogs with HD, physical exam

findings typically include uni‐ or bilateral

weight‐bearing pelvic limb lameness, pelvic

limb muscle atrophy and gluteal weakness,

prominence of the greater trochanter consist­

ent with femoral head subluxation, decreased

passive and active extension of the hip, and

core muscle weakness (Bockstahler et al., 2012;

Demko & McLaughlin, 2005).

There are several radiographic views used

to assess hip conformation and secondary OA

(Powers et al., 2010; Gatineau et al., 2012;

Verhoeven et al., 2012). The standard ventro­

dorsal extended limb view is widely used

(Figure 14.11), and is the view required by the

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for

breed screening.

There are several limitations to the ventro­

dorsal view and the OFA screening method­

ology. Positioning for this view underestimates

the degree of joint laxity. Additionally, radio­

graphs are given a subjective rating based on

1.

2.

3.

Figure 14.10 Passive hip laxity can be palpated in young
dogs using the Ortolani maneuver. Source: Illustrations by
Marcia Schlehr.

Figure 14.11 For radiographic diagnosis of hip

dysplasia, the standard ventrodorsal extended limb view

is widely used, and is the view required by the

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for breed screening.