Summary
Objectives: To evaluate and compare long-term functional outcome after partial carpal arthrodesis
and pancarpal arthrodesis in dogs using kinetic gait analysis.
Methods: Fourteen dogs with 19 partial carpal or pancarpal arthrodeses were retrospectively
examined and underwent force-plate gait analysis. Mean times since surgery were 29.4
and 24.4 months for pancarpal and partial carpal arthrodesis respectively. Vertical
and braking-propulsive ground reaction force profiles were compared between treatment
groups, and to those of normal dogs (control group) using Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis
of variance.
Results: With the exception of time to vertical peak that occurred earlier in dogs with pancarpal
than in dogs with partial carpal arthrodesis (p <0.01), there was no difference between
the two treatment groups. Several parameters differed significantly between operated
and healthy dogs (p <0.01): vertical impulses were significantly lower in both treatment
groups, braking forces and impulses were also reduced after both techniques. Propulsive
forces and impulses were only reduced in dogs with pancarpal arthrodesis. When comparing
gait parameters of sound limbs of unilateral operated dogs to those of control dogs,
braking forces and impulses (p <0.01; p <0.05) were significantly higher in the sound
legs of unilateral operated dogs.
Clinical Significance: Long-term outcome after partial carpal and pancarpal arthrodesis is good and comparable
to each other. Propulsive action may be altered more in dogs with pancarpal arthrodesis.
Keywords
Ground reaction forces - kinetic gait analysis - partial carpal arthrodesis - pancarpal
arthrodesis - hyperextension trauma
