Wii Balance Board for the Diagnostic and Prognostic Assessment in the Dog with Medial Patellar Luxation

Abstract

Wii balance board (WBB) is a device that can measure and record body sway. This study was conducted to evaluate reliability of WBB in small sized dog as inexpensive, portable and convenient tool. The center of pressure path length (CPPL) and 95% confidence ellipse area (Area 95) were evaluated with only two plates of WBB. Whether the internally stored calibration values were significant values demonstrated between no load and mass group. The parameters were evaluated between no load (0 kg) and mass group (0.25~4 kg on each one plate). And 23 dogs (2.3~7.3 ㎏) were evaluated for with hindlimb standing for 10 seconds. The average of CPPL and Area 95 was 13.4 ± 0.77 m, 22.6 ± 7.55 ㎠ in no load for 10 seconds, respectively. The mass group showed a significant values in comparison to the no load during the measurement (p <0.01). And intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) (=0.91) between CPPL and Area 95 revealed very high. The average of CPPL and Area 95 was 2.9 ± 0.81 m, 2.0 ± 0.71 ㎠, respectively in dogs. Group of dogs revealed high ICCs (= 0.86) between CPPL and Area 95. In the evaluation of medial patellar luxation (MPL) as a diagnostic tool, 80 dogs with MPL and 23 intact dogs were participated in this study. Significant differences of CPPL were found between non-affected and grade Ⅲ MPL group (p <0.01). Significant differences of Area 95 were found between non-affected stifles and grade Ⅲ, Ⅳ group (p <0.01). Significant differences of CPPL were found between non-affected and grade Ⅲ (p < 0.01), Ⅳ group (p <0.01). Significant differences of Area 95 were found among non-affected and grade Ⅱ (p <0.05), Ⅲ (p < 0.01), Ⅳ group (p <0.01). For evaluating measure of improvement after reconstruction of MPL in small sized dogs, 6 dogs with MPL were participated in this study. Dogs were measured for difference of extension and flexion range of motion in the stifle (dROM), muscle mass, lameness, willingness to bear weight on the affected limb while standing, and willingness to lift the contralateral limb scores, CPPL and Area 95 of WBB on pre-surgery, post-surgery 4, 8 weeks. dROM, muscle mass, lameness score, willingness to bear weight on the affected limb while standing, willingness to lift the contralateral limb scores, and Area 95 was significantly different on pre-surgery compared with post-surgery 4 and 8 weeks (p < 0.01). CPPL was significantly different on pre-surgery compared with post-surgery 8 weeks (p < 0.05). As results, WBB can be a valid and reliable tool for the diagnostic and prognostic assessment in small sized dog with MPL.