# Statistical shape modeling of the geometric morphology of the canine femur, tibia, and patella

## TL;DR

This study creates a statistical model of dog leg bones to understand how their shape varies by breed and size, which could help explain why some dogs are more prone to bone issues.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a statistical shape model of canine femur, tibia, and patella to analyze morphological variations based on breed and body weight.

## Key findings

- The first few modes of variation in the model accounted for a significant portion of total shape variation.
- Size and scale were identified as the most prominent factors influencing bone morphology.
- The model provides insights into normal anatomical variations for future veterinary research.

## Abstract

Bone morphometry varies among dogs of different sizes and breeds. Studying these differences may help understand the predisposition of certain breeds for specific orthopedic pathologies. This study aimed to develop a statistical shape model (SSM) of the femur, patella, and tibia of dogs without any clinical orthopeadic abnormalities to analyze and compare morphological variations based on body weight and breed. A total of 97 CT scans were collected from different facilities and divided based on breed and body weight. The 3D models of the bones were obtained and aligned to a coordinate system. The SSM was created using principal component analysis (PCA) to analyze shape variations. The study found that the first few modes of variation accounted for a significant percentage of the total variation, with size/scale being the most prominent factor. The results provide valuable insights into normal anatomical variations and can be used for future research in understanding pathological bone morphologies and developing 3D imaging algorithms in veterinary medicine.