Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How accurate are dog elbow X-rays for detecting humeral fissures
By Sprocatti, M et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2025·Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging Services, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnostic accuracy of radiographs for the diagnosis of humeral intracondylar fissure in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with elbow problems underwent X-rays to check for humeral intracondylar fissures, which are cracks in the elbow joint. The X-rays were compared to CT scans, and it turned out that the X-rays were not very reliable; they correctly identified only about half of the fissures. While the X-rays could sometimes suggest a fissure was present, they missed many cases, leading to a recommendation that X-rays alone are not enough for a proper diagnosis. For accurate results, a CT scan is preferred.
People also search for: dog elbow pain diagnosis · humeral intracondylar fissure treatment · dog X-ray accuracy for elbow issues
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of radiographs in identifying humeral intracondylar fissures in dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data from dogs undergoing CT and radiographic elbow investigations at a single institution were reviewed. Based on CT diagnosis, radiographs were classified as having fissures and not having fissures. The radiographic images were evaluated by three blinded observers for the presence/absence of a fissure, type (partial or complete), and for secondary signs that could suggest the presence of a fissure in case this was not visible. RESULTS: A total of 81 radiographs (76 elbows) were reviewed. Based on CT findings, 37 elbows had fissures and 44 did not. Radiographic interpretation demonstrated a sensitivity of 47.7% (confidence interval 95%: 0.40 to 0.59) and specificity of 85.6% (confidence interval 95%: 0.72 to 0.93) in correctly identifying humeral intracondylar fissures. The positive predictive value was 75.5% (confidence interval 95%: 0.64 to 0.84) and the negative predictive value was 66.1% (confidence interval 95%: 0.63 to 0.68). Agreement with CT images was <0.4, and interobserver and intraobserver agreements were <0.8. The radiographic orientation and type of fissure did not significantly affect interpretation outcomes. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Radiographic imaging alone is insufficient for reliably diagnosing humeral intracondylar fissures in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39243156/