Femoral varus angle - Dog - axes and angles - Thigh bone [Femur] - vet-Anatomy
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Femoral varus angle

Femoral varus angle

  • Acronym: FVA

Definition

Stephan Mahler

The femoral varus angle (FVA) is a measurement used to assess angular deformities of the femur and provide guidance for corrections. It is determined from a ventrodorsal radiograph of the hips or multiplanar reconstructed CT images of the femur.

For radiographic acquisition, the dog is positioned in dorsal recumbency, pelvic limbs extended caudally, femurs parallel to each other. Positioning is considered satisfactory if :

The femoral varus angle is measured as the angle between the anatomic femoral axis in the frontal plane and the line perpendicular to the distal femoral joint orientation line.

The following values have been published for the femoral varus angle in healthy dogs:

  • Small breeds: 5.5° (min 3–max 23) (Radiography) Garnoeva et al. 2018

  • Medium to large breeds: 9.4 +/- 2.3° (Radiography) Dudley et al. 2006

  • Pomeranian: 5.85 +/- 3.18° (Radiography) Soparat et al. 2012

  • Toy Poodle: 4.4 +/- 4.1° (Radiography) Yasukawa et al. 2016

  • Yorkshire terrier: 5.63 +/- 2.11° (Radiography) Žilinčík et al. 2018

  • Toy Poodle: 0.3 +/- 2.8 (CT) Yasukawa et al. 2016

  • Medium to large breeds: 8.8 +/- 3.3 (CT) Dudley et al. 2006

References

  • Garnoeva, R, Roydev, R, Paskalev, M et al. Radiographic measures of pelvic limb malalignment in small breed dogs with various grades of medial patellar luxation. Comp Clin Pathol 2018;27, 1551–1555. doi.org/10.1007/s00580-018-2772-8

  • Dudley RM, Kowaleski MP, Drost WT, Dyce J. Radiographic and computed tomographic determination of femoral varus and torsion in the dog. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2006 Oct-Nov;47(6):546-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2006.00184.x.

  • Soparat C, Wangdee C, Chuthatep S, Kalpravidh M. Radiographic measurement for femoral varus in Pomeranian dogs with and without medial patellar luxation. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2012;25(3):197-201. doi: 10.3415/VCOT-11-04-0057. Epub 2012 Jan 27.

  • Žilinčík M, Hluchý M, Takáč L, Ledecký V. Comparison of Radiographic Measurements of the Femur in Yorkshire Terriers with and without Medial Patellar Luxation. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2018 Jan;31(1):17-22. doi: 10.3415/VCOT-17-01-0018. Epub 2018 Jan 11.

  • Yasukawa S, Edamura K, Tanegashima K, Seki M, Teshima K, Asano K, Nakayama T, Hayashi K. Evaluation of bone deformities of the femur, tibia, and patella in Toy Poodles with medial patellar luxation using computed tomography. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2016;29(1):29-38. doi: 10.3415/VCOT-15-05-0089. Epub 2015 Dec 7.

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