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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2021; 34(02): 115-123
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1719063
Original Research

Kinematics of the Feline Antebrachiocarpal Joint from Supination to Pronation

Rachel M. Basa 
1   Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
,
William C.H. Parr 
2   Surgical and Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
,
Christopher J. Tan
1   Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
,
William R. Walsh
2   Surgical and Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
,
Kenneth A. Johnson 
1   Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
› Author Affiliations Funding R.B. was funded by a residency stipend from the Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science. The use of image processing software was subsidized by the Surgical and Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Prince of Wales Clinical School.
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Abstract

Objective Cats rely on their forelimb mobility for everyday activities including climbing and grooming. Supination and pronation of the forelimb in cats are considered to primarily involve the antebrachium, rather than the carpus. Therefore, our null hypothesis was that there would be no movement of the carpal bones (radial carpal bone, ulnar carpal bone and accessory carpal bone) relative to the ulna during supination and pronation.

Study Design Eight feline cadaveric forelimbs were rotated from supination to pronation in a jig and computed tomography was performed in the neutral, supinated and pronated positions. The individual carpal bones were segmented from computed tomography images of the supinated and pronated scans in each of the eight specimens. A feline ulna coordinate system was established and used to quantify the translations and rotations between bones of the proximal carpal row and antebrachium.

Results After the carpus was rotated from the initial supinated position into pronation, there was significant translation (x, y and z axes) and rotation (x and y axes) of the proximal row of carpal bones based on absolute magnitude values. Given the differences in translations and rotations of the proximal row of carpal bones, our null hypothesis was rejected.

Conclusion The proximal row of carpal bones translate and rotate independently from the ulna in the cat during pronation of the antebrachium. This may have future implications in the diagnosis and management of feline carpal injuries involving the antebrachiocarpal joint.

Keywords

kinematics - feline - antebrachiocarpal joint - carpus - pronation/supination

Note

This research was presented at the 27th European College of Veterinary Surgeons annual scientific meeting on July 6, 2018 in Athens, Greece.


Authors' Contributions

All authors contributed to conception of study, study design, acquisition of data, data analysis and interpretation, and drafting/revising and approving the submitted manuscript. They are publically accountable for relevant content.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 16 January 2019

Accepted: 11 August 2020

Article published online:
20 November 2020

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