Inter-rater reliability in performing stifle goniometry in normal and cranial cruciate ligament disease affected dogs: a prospective randomized controlled study

Abstract Background Goniometry can be performed clinically in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD). The purpose of this study was (1) to compare reliability of stifle goniometry in dogs with CCLD and healthy dogs and (2) to investigate the effect of compliance on measurements. Dogs pre...

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Main Authors: Frederik Volz, Johannes Maximilian Schmutterer, Tanja Stephanie Vockrodt, Yury Zablotski, Susanne Katja Lauer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-08-01
Series:BMC Veterinary Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04206-5
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author Frederik Volz
Johannes Maximilian Schmutterer
Tanja Stephanie Vockrodt
Yury Zablotski
Susanne Katja Lauer
author_facet Frederik Volz
Johannes Maximilian Schmutterer
Tanja Stephanie Vockrodt
Yury Zablotski
Susanne Katja Lauer
author_sort Frederik Volz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Goniometry can be performed clinically in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD). The purpose of this study was (1) to compare reliability of stifle goniometry in dogs with CCLD and healthy dogs and (2) to investigate the effect of compliance on measurements. Dogs presented for surgical intervention for CCLD (CCL-Dogs; n = 15) and orthopedically healthy dogs (C-Dogs; n = 11) were enrolled in this prospective randomized controlled trial. In each dog, three observers randomly measured maximum stifle flexion (mSF) and maximum stifle extension (mSE) three times with a standard goniometer with the scale covered, while dog compliance was scored (Scores: C0: excellent - C4: poor). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for intra-/interobserver reliability. Effects on measurements were evaluated with mixed-effect models (MEM). Results Maximum stifle extension and mSE-compliance were significantly decreased in CCL-Dogs compared to C-Dogs (p ≤ 0.004), but mSF and mSF-compliance did not differ between groups. Intraobserver reliability was excellent for all dogs during mSE (ICC:0.75–0.99) and mSF (ICC:0.89–0.99). Interobserver reliability was excellent for mSF in both groups (ICC: C-Dogs:0.84, CCL-Dogs:0.9) and for mSE in CCL-Dogs (ICC:0.94) but only fair for mSE in C-Dogs (ICC:0.58). Robust MEM showed that the combined average of all mSE measurements of all three observers was affected by compliance in both groups (p < 0.001). This effect was not observed for single mSE-measurements by themselves. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that compliance may affect goniometric stifle extension measurements in healthy and CCLD dogs. In a clinical setting, intra-/interobserver reliability was excellent for all measurements except for maximum stifle extension in healthy dogs.
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spelling doaj-art-9f4c684040ae499a9921826cc5ab2d212025-08-20T04:02:56ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482024-08-012011810.1186/s12917-024-04206-5Inter-rater reliability in performing stifle goniometry in normal and cranial cruciate ligament disease affected dogs: a prospective randomized controlled studyFrederik Volz0Johannes Maximilian Schmutterer1Tanja Stephanie Vockrodt2Yury Zablotski3Susanne Katja Lauer4LMU Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenTierklinik DinkelsbühlTierklinik DinkelsbühlLMU Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenLMU Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenAbstract Background Goniometry can be performed clinically in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD). The purpose of this study was (1) to compare reliability of stifle goniometry in dogs with CCLD and healthy dogs and (2) to investigate the effect of compliance on measurements. Dogs presented for surgical intervention for CCLD (CCL-Dogs; n = 15) and orthopedically healthy dogs (C-Dogs; n = 11) were enrolled in this prospective randomized controlled trial. In each dog, three observers randomly measured maximum stifle flexion (mSF) and maximum stifle extension (mSE) three times with a standard goniometer with the scale covered, while dog compliance was scored (Scores: C0: excellent - C4: poor). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for intra-/interobserver reliability. Effects on measurements were evaluated with mixed-effect models (MEM). Results Maximum stifle extension and mSE-compliance were significantly decreased in CCL-Dogs compared to C-Dogs (p ≤ 0.004), but mSF and mSF-compliance did not differ between groups. Intraobserver reliability was excellent for all dogs during mSE (ICC:0.75–0.99) and mSF (ICC:0.89–0.99). Interobserver reliability was excellent for mSF in both groups (ICC: C-Dogs:0.84, CCL-Dogs:0.9) and for mSE in CCL-Dogs (ICC:0.94) but only fair for mSE in C-Dogs (ICC:0.58). Robust MEM showed that the combined average of all mSE measurements of all three observers was affected by compliance in both groups (p < 0.001). This effect was not observed for single mSE-measurements by themselves. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that compliance may affect goniometric stifle extension measurements in healthy and CCLD dogs. In a clinical setting, intra-/interobserver reliability was excellent for all measurements except for maximum stifle extension in healthy dogs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04206-5Cranial cruciate ligament diseaseComplianceDogGoniometryReliability
spellingShingle Frederik Volz
Johannes Maximilian Schmutterer
Tanja Stephanie Vockrodt
Yury Zablotski
Susanne Katja Lauer
Inter-rater reliability in performing stifle goniometry in normal and cranial cruciate ligament disease affected dogs: a prospective randomized controlled study
BMC Veterinary Research
Cranial cruciate ligament disease
Compliance
Dog
Goniometry
Reliability
title Inter-rater reliability in performing stifle goniometry in normal and cranial cruciate ligament disease affected dogs: a prospective randomized controlled study
title_full Inter-rater reliability in performing stifle goniometry in normal and cranial cruciate ligament disease affected dogs: a prospective randomized controlled study
title_fullStr Inter-rater reliability in performing stifle goniometry in normal and cranial cruciate ligament disease affected dogs: a prospective randomized controlled study
title_full_unstemmed Inter-rater reliability in performing stifle goniometry in normal and cranial cruciate ligament disease affected dogs: a prospective randomized controlled study
title_short Inter-rater reliability in performing stifle goniometry in normal and cranial cruciate ligament disease affected dogs: a prospective randomized controlled study
title_sort inter rater reliability in performing stifle goniometry in normal and cranial cruciate ligament disease affected dogs a prospective randomized controlled study
topic Cranial cruciate ligament disease
Compliance
Dog
Goniometry
Reliability
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04206-5
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