Application of the Kellgren-Lawrence scoring system in dogs with stifle joint osteoarthritis and its comparison with clinical and surgical parameters

Assessing the existence of osteoarthritis from radiographs is a common veterinary application. To allow comparability of radiographs, a scoring scheme would be useful. As there is no established scoring system for the evaluation of osteoarthritis in dogs, the Kellgren-Lawrence scoring system used in human medicine was investigated in this study using the example of osteoarthritis of the stifle joint. A total of 72 dogs with stifle joint arthrosis as a result of a cruciate ligament rupture were included in this study. All patients underwent arthrotomy as part of the surgical management. Radiographs of the affected joint were taken prior to surgery. These were compared with the surgical assessment of osteoarthritis and the Kellgren-Lawrence scoring system. The comparison between the radiographic assessment and the assessment by intra-articular examination during surgery showed a significant correlation (p < 0.05). Accordingly, the Kellgren-Lawrence scoring system could be applied to dogs with knee joint osteoarthritis. No significant correlation was found between the degree of lameness and the radiological scoring system, but in contrast, the duration of lameness and the radiological score correlated well. In conclusion, the human scoring system is suitable for the assessment of osteoarthritis in canine knee joints.