Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Trochlear groove depth differences in pugs and bulldogs on CT scan
By Matchwick, Alexandra et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T·2021·Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Computed Tomographic Measurement of Trochlear Depth in Three Breeds of Brachycephalic Dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at the depth of a specific groove in the knee joint of Pugs, French Bulldogs, and English Bulldogs, which are breeds prone to knee problems like patellar luxation (where the kneecap slips out of place). The researchers found that Pugs had a deeper groove compared to French and English Bulldogs, which had shallower grooves. This difference in groove depth might be linked to the breeds themselves, but it doesn't directly explain why these breeds are at risk for knee issues. Understanding these measurements can help vets better assess and treat knee problems in these dogs.
People also search for: brachycephalic dog knee problems · Pug patellar luxation risk · French Bulldog knee joint depth
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:  The aim of this study was to determine the trochlear sulcus depth of three common brachycephalic breeds at risk of medial patellar luxation. STUDY DESIGN:  Retrospective blinded clinical study using a previously validated ratio (T/P) of maximal trochlear sulcus depth (T) and maximal patellar craniocaudal thickness (P) measured on computed tomography, to assess trochlear sulcus depth in Pugs, French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs without clinical patellar luxation. The effect of breed on T/P was assessed using one-way linear regression models. RESULTS:  The mean T/P was affected by breed ( < 0.001). There was significant difference between Pugs (0.45) and French Bulldogs (0.38) and between Pugs and English Bulldogs (0.4). There was no significant difference between Pugs and previously published data for non-brachycephalic and mixed breed dogs (0.46) ( = 0.39). Mean T/P was significantly reduced in the brachycephalic dog breeds combined compared with the previously published data ( < 0.001). CONCLUSION:  The trochlear sulcus varies by breed and was more shallow in French and English Bulldogs than Pugs, hence a shallow sulcus may be a breed-driven characteristic. The three breeds assessed are at risk of patellar luxation but sulcus depth did not directly correlate with previously published risk factors-the contribution of sulcus depth to the aetiopathogenesis of patellar luxation remains unclear. Trochlear recession to achieve patellar coverage of 50% may be excessive considering maximal breed normal depth.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33242895/