The accuracy of the dorsoproximal-dorsodistal projection in assessing third carpal bone sclerosis in standardbred trotters

Thirty-five carpal joints from 20 standardbred trotters, age 1 to 7 years, all euthanized for nonorthopedic reasons, were examined to investigate the correlation between assessments of subchondral bone sclerosis in the third carpal bane from radiographs in the dorsoproximal-dorsodistal (DPr-DDi) projection and bistomorphometric bone volume density measurements. The agreement between assessments of sclerosis from antemortem versus postmortem radiographs was also evaluated. Bones graded as sclerotic in the DPr-DDi projection had significantly higher bone volume density values for all areas of measurement than nonsclerotic bones. For sclerotic bones, grading of sclerosis was significantly associated with volume density measurements in the central cancellous bone only. These was a good agreement (kappa(w) = 0.71) between assessments of radiographic bone sclerosis from antemortem versus postmortem radiographs.