KINEMATIC VARIABLES TO DESCRIBE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NORMAL DOGS AND DOGS WITH OSTEOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS OF THE HUMERAL HEAD

Abstract: In this study we tried to identify the locomotory changes induced on front leg joints (shoulder, elbow, carpal) by osteocondritis dissecans (OCD) of the humeral head on large common breed dogs.Three-dimensional kinematic analysis was used for determining the articular movement of the shoulder, elbow and carpal joints. The system used was a videographic one, based on reflecting markers. In dogs with surgical induced OCD subtle changes in flexion / extension angles dynamics were noticed. Also, the increasing of gait length and the apparition of differences in velocity and angular acceleration variation curves were observed in dogs with OCD. Kinematic analysis based on Ariel APAS system represents a reliable method that allows evaluation of the complex changes generated by OCD