*** News release from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine ***
Veterinary Surgeon Draws on Engineering Expertise in Search for Measures to Predict Lameness in Dogs
URBANA - A torn ligament in the knee is not just a problem for human athletes. It's the most common orthopedic problems affecting dogs, too--especially large dogs.
A veterinary surgeon at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine is doing more than just repairing the problem--known as cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) deficiency--on her patients. She is conducting research to identify ways to predict which individuals are susceptible to this problem, and to determine what steps can be taken during the dog's early life that will prevent CCL deficiency in its adulthood.
Dr. Dominique Griffon is enrolling adult Labrador retrievers in a multi-dimensional study designed to determine the usefulness of radiographs, bone density measurements, and computer tomography (CT) evaluations of the hind limb conformation as a means of identifying differences in dogs with CCL deficiency and normal dogs.
In addition, the gait, or walk, of some dogs enrolled in the study will be analyzed at the Human Dynamics and Controls Lab within the University of Illinois College of Engineering.
Dr. Griffon is collaborating with Dr. Elizabeth T. Hsiao-Wecksler, a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering who runs the Human Dynamics and Controls Lab. This lab is equipped to study issues related to musculoskeletal biomechanics and rehabilitation engineering using such techniques as dynamic systems modeling, control theory, and movement analysis. As its name implies, this lab was designed for human subjects, so analyzing the gait of dogs is new territory for all concerned.
Dr. Griffon plans to extend what she learns from the comparison of normal dogs and those with CCL deficiency through additional study into preventive measures, such as physical therapy and/or surgical alteration of growth plates, that can reduce the incidence of CCL deficiency in susceptible individuals.
Presently, the study needs to enroll pure-bred Labrador retrievers both with CCL deficiency and normal dogs without orthopedic disease. Normal dogs may qualify for a free dental cleaning and complete orthopedic evaluation. CCL dogs would receive the preoperative work-up routinely recommended for patients at no charge.
A complete description of the study is on the Web at www.cvm.uiuc.edu/vth/documents/cclannounce.pdf
Dominique Griffon is an assistant professor in small animal orthopedic surgery at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a diplomate of the European and American colleges of veterinary surgeons. Her research interests encompass bone and cartilage engineering in three-dimensional scaffolds, clinical applications of synthetic biomaterials, and more.
Read more about Dr. Griffon and her interests here: http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/faculty/vcm/dgriffon.htmlwww.cvm.uiuc.edu/lorb/
This news release can also be found at:
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/news/viewartcl.cfm?id=73
No comments:
Post a Comment