A symmetric axis-based method for measuring the projected femoral angle of inclination in dogs.

A new, simple and more consistent method for measuring the projected angle of inclination of the canine femoral neck was devised and tested. This method, based on the principles of symmetric axis (symax) shape analysis, was compared with three other techniques currently in use. Diplomates of the ACVR or ACVS and senior veterinary students were asked to perform measurements of the angle of inclination using the four methods, record their results, and answer several questions about the techniques. Although greater precision was not evident when performed by diplomates, descriptive statistics and a significant difference among the student-derived variances of the four methods demonstrated that the symax-based measurements were most consistent.