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CC BY 4.0 · VCOT Open 2021; 04(01): e65-e71
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731437
Original Article

Simple Video-Based Spatiotemporal Gait Analysis Is Not Better than Subjective Visual Assessment of Lameness in Dogs

Julie H. Møller
1   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
2   Trehøje Dyrlæger, Vildbjerg, Denmark
,
Anne D. Vitger
1   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
,
Helle H. Poulsen
1   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
,
James E. Miles 
1   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
› Author Affiliations Funding This study was supported by a grant from the Agria/Swedish Kennel Club research foundation.
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Abstract

Introduction Visual gait analysis is prone to subjectivity, but objective analysis systems are not widely available to clinicians. Simple video analysis using high-definition recordings might enable identification of temporal or spatial variations that could permit objective and repeatable assessments of lameness in general practice.

Methods Cohorts of normal and mildly to moderately lame dogs were filmed using a standardized protocol. Using freely available software, measurements of stance, swing and stride time were obtained, along with measurements of pelvic, shoulder, and head height for each limb. Symmetry ratios were calculated, and distributions of normal and lame dogs compared using Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis test.

Results Recordings from 35 normal dogs were assessed along with 30 dogs with grade 1 to 3/5 lameness. While no consistent significant differences in temporal characteristics could be found, head height asymmetry was significantly different between lame and normal dogs (p = 0.003), with pairwise comparison showing this difference was restricted to forelimb-lame dogs (p = 0.03).

Conclusion While potentially useful for patient records, use of video recordings at walking speeds for simple spatiotemporal gait analysis does not appear to offer clinically significant advantages over visual gait analysis in a typical clinical population of lame dogs.

Keywords

lameness evaluations - kinematic - osteoarthritis - dogs


Publication History

Received: 11 March 2021

Accepted: 24 April 2021

Article published online:
30 June 2021

© 2021. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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