Archive-name: dogs-faq/medical-info/pennhip
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                               PENNHIP FAQ SHEET
                                       
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   ICG 03/95
   
   Questions and Answers about PennHIP
   A New Scientific Method for Early Screening for Canine Hip Dysplasia
   
     * Introduction
     * What Exactly Is PennHIP?
     * How Was PennHIP Developed?
     * How Does PennHIP Differ from Evaluation Methods Which Use the Hip
       Extended Position?
     * What Happens to My Dog During a PennHIP Evaluation?
     * What Is the Cost of Having My Dog Evaluated?
     * Is PennHIP Going To Replace Other Commercially Available Systems?
     * Will AKC and Other Breed Registration Organizations "Recognize"
       PennHIP?
     * Are the Results Confidential?
     * How Does This Benefit Me as an Owner or Breeder of Dogs?
     * How Can I Get the Name of a PennHIP Veterinarian or Get Answers to
       Additional Questions?
       
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   
   Introduction
    
   Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) is the most common, heritable orthopedic
   problem seen in dogs. It affects virtually all breeds of dogs but is
   especially problematic in large and giant breeds. Clinically, the
   disease manifests itself in one of two ways:
   
    1. a severe form that typically afflicts the younger animal and is
       usually characterized by marked pain and lameness, or
       
    2. a more chronic form with more gradual onset of clinical signs
       such as mild intermittent pain, stiffness and restricted range of
       motion in the hips as the dog ages. In many cases, the chronic
       form may be clinically silent.
       
   Breeders and veterinarians have long sought a reliable method to
   determine the likelihood of a dog developing CHD and passing that
   genetic trait to any offspring. It was generally recognized that the
   current diagnostic methods of hip evaluation were associated with
   disappointing progress in reducing the frequency of CHD. In 1983, Dr.
   Gail Smith, a veterinary orthopedic surgeon and bioengineer from the
   University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, began to
   actively research and develop a new scientific method for the early
   diagnosis of Canine Hip Dysplasia. Research in his laboratory
   resulted in a diagnostic method capable of estimating the
   susceptibility for CHD in populations of dogs as young as sixteen
   weeks. The method has shown distinct advantages over the standard CHD
   diagnostic method that evaluates dogs at two years or older. The
   university of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP) was
   founded as an extension of Dr. Smith's laboratory research. Below are
   answers to some commonly asked questions about the PennHIP method. 
   
   What Exactly Is PennHIP?
    
   PennHIP is a scientific method to evaluate a dog for its
   susceptibility to develop Hip Dysplasia. The radiographic procedure
   involves a special positioning of the dog so that the dog's "passive
   hip laxity" can be accurately measured. In simple terms, passive hip
   laxity refers to the degree of looseness of the hip ball in the hip
   socket when the dog's muscles are completely relaxed. Research has
   shown that the degree of passive hip laxity is an important factor in
   determining susceptibility to develop Degenerative Joint Disease
   (DJD) later in life. Radiographic evidence of hip DJD, also known as
   osteoarthritis, is the universally accepted confirmation of CHD.
   PennHIP is being marketed by International Canine Genetics, Inc.
   (ICG) of Malvern, PA. 
   
   How Was PennHIP developed?
    
   The development of PennHIP has involved multiple disciplines
   including biomechanics, orthopedics, clinical medicine, radiology,
   epidemiology and population genetics. The first phase of development
   involved sophisticated biomechanical testing to determine the optimal
   patient position for measuring hip laxity. By monitoring passive hip
   laxity in dogs as they matured, it was discovered that hip laxity was
   the primary factor in the development of the DJD characteristic of
   CHD. That is, the radiographic expression of DJD was statistically
   significantly correlated with the degree of measured passive hip
   laxity. In addition, the CHD prediction was shown to be acceptably
   accurate in populations of puppies as young as sixteen weeks of age.
   Moreover, the correlation between passive hip laxity and subsequent
   hip DJD was shown to increase over the four-month figures when hips
   were evaluated at six months and twelve months of age. In the same
   studies, it was shown that there was no statistically significant
   correlation between laxity and DJD when the standard hip extended
   position was used. In addition, no other method used to evaluate for
   CHD has undergone similar rigorous testing through controlled
   scientific studies to determine diagnostic accuracy. 
   
   How Does PennHIP Differ from Evaluation Methods Which Use the Hip Extended
   Position?
    
   PennHIP differs in some very fundamental and important ways. First,
   PennHIP was developed and tested following strict scientific protocol
   and the results of these studies have been published (and continue to
   be) in peer-reviewed, scientific journals. More than a decade of
   research and analysis has produced a body of information in support
   of PennHIP's effectiveness. As with all diagnostic tests, PennHIP's
   accuracy is not 100 percent, but in direct comparisons it is far
   superior to any other available diagnostic method. Second, passive
   hip laxity is objectively measured and the resulting Hip Evaluation
   Report is not issued in a pass/fail framework. PennHIP specifically
   measures passive joint laxity and includes the quantitative
   measurement in its report. Based on the degree of laxity, the
   individual dog is then ranked relative to other members of the same
   breed. (Note: Breed specific rankings are given when there are twenty
   or more evaluations. If there are fewer than twenty evaluations -
   ranking is made to the general dog population.) For Example, a dog
   receiving a ranking in the 70th percentile means that thirty percent
   of its breed members have hips that are tighter. This allows breeders
   to easily identify those animals with tighter hips within each breed.
   As shown in our studies, dogs with tighter hips are less likely to
   develop CHD and pass that genetic tendency on to future generations.
   Third, because PennHIP is measuring maximal passive hip laxity, the
   position of the patient is very different from the hip-extended
   position. The hip-extended position has been used for more than
   thirty years to screen hips for either DJD, laxity or both.
   Laboratory studies, however, have indicated wide diagnostic
   variability among radiologists in interpreting this view. Further,
   through biomechanical testing, the hip-extended view was found to
   mask the underlying true joint laxity and through direct comparison,
   the predictive value for CHD was shown to be inferior to the PennHIP
   procedure. Most importantly, the heritability of the diseased
   phenotype scored in the hip-extended view has not been studied in
   most breeds of dogs. A knowledge of heritability is critical to
   determine whether the selection pressure will produce genetic change.
   Estimates for the heritability of passive hip laxity drawn from
   analysis of full pedigrees for the breeds examined thus far in the
   studies show high values (for German Shepherd Dogs, heritability =
   0.61). Fourth, the PennHIP method is based on strict quality control.
   To take PennHIP radiographs, veterinarians must undergo training and
   a certification process to demonstrate competency. The data generated
   from PennHIP undergoes regular review and statistical analysis so
   that useful information, by breed, is available to judge progress
   toward reducing CHD. For optimal validity, it is mandatory that all
   PennHIP radiographs be submitted for analysis and inclusion in the
   PennHIP database. This policy eliminates the practice of prescreening
   radiographs and sending only the best for evaluation, resulting in
   biased hip data for any given breed. 
   
   What Happens to My Dog During a PennHIP Evaluation?
    
   To obtain diagnostic radiographs, it is important that the patient
   and the surrounding hip musculature be completely relaxed. For the
   comfort and safety of the animal, this required sedation, however
   some veterinarians prefer general anesthesia. Typically, three
   separate radiographs are made during an evaluation. The first is a
   compression view where the femurs are positioned in a neutral,
   stance-phase orientation and the femoral heads are pushed fully into
   the sockets. This helps show the true depth of the hip socket and
   gives an indication of the "fit" of the ball in the socket. The
   second radiograph is the distraction view. Again, the hips are
   positioned in a neutral orientation and a special positioning device
   is used to apply a harmless force to cause the hips to displace
   laterally. This position is the most accurate and sensitive for
   showing the degree of passive laxity. Passive laxity has been shown
   to correlate with the susceptibility to develop DJD. A hip extended
   view is also included for the sole purpose of examining for any
   existing joint disease such as osteoarthritis. The PennHIP procedure
   has been safely performed on thousands of patients. 
   
   What Is the Cost of Having My Dog Evaluated?
    
   The total fee for a PennHIP evaluation is determined by the
   veterinarian providing the service. It is important to remember that
   the total service includes sedation/anesthesia, three radiographs,
   office consultation and all charges associated with mailing and film
   evaluation. You will not find it necessary to write a separate check
   for evaluation fees or mail your dog's films. The veterinarian
   performing the procedure is responsible for payment and film
   submission. The film evaluation charge (currently $25.00) will be
   included in the total cost of a PennHIP evaluation. 
   
   Is PennHIP Going To Replace Other Commercially Available Systems?
    
   As technology advances, the veterinary professional community will
   offer and utilize improved methods of disease diagnosis. The dog
   breeding community will also endorse those methods that help them
   achieve their goals of reducing the frequency of hip Dysplasia in
   dogs while maintaining other desirable traits and features. The
   PennHIP technology and research have been and will continue to be,
   fully presented to the veterinary medical community for its review.
   PennHIP has been received enthusiastically as a major step toward
   reducing the frequency of CHD. We encourage and welcome continued
   scientific examination and comparison of PennHIP to any available or
   new methods of canine hip Dysplasia diagnosis. 
   
   Will AKC and Other Breed Registration Organizations "Recognize" PennHIP?
    
   ICG is working with many organizations to present the PennHIP
   technology and the positive impact it holds for reducing Canine Hip
   Dysplasia. It is conceivable that at some point a PennHIP reference
   might be included as part of the dog's registry information. However,
   all hip evaluation reports are considered confidential medical
   information and are released only to the PennHIP veterinarian and the
   owner of the dog (unless the owner requests otherwise). 
   
   How Does This Benefit Me as an Owner or Breeder of Dogs?
    
   Scientific data confirms that the PennHIP method surpasses other
   diagnostic methods in the ability to accurately predict
   susceptibility to developing CHD. The method can be performed on dogs
   as young as sixteen weeks of age compared with two years using the
   standard technique. The ability to receive an early estimate of a
   dog's hip integrity is important whether the dog's intended purpose
   will be for breeding, for working or as a family pet. The data
   generated by PennHIP will allow breeders to confidently identify the
   members of their breeding stock with the tightest hips. The PennHIP
   interpretation will also permit breeders to assess the progress they
   are making with their breeding program as they strive to reduce the
   amount of hip laxity in their dogs. Pet owners are able to assess
   their pet's risk of developing CHD, and make lifestyle adjustments
   for their dog, if necessary, to enhance the quality of their pet's
   life. 
   
   How Can I Get the Name of a PennHIP Veterinarian or Get Answers to
   Additional Questions?
    
   To obtain the name of a veterinarian near you who is trained and
   certified to perform the PennHIP procedure, call ICG at
   1-800-248-8099. If there is not a veterinarian near you presently,
   additional veterinarians are being trained throughout the country. If
   your veterinarian would like to learn more about PennHIP, please have
   him/her contact ICG directly.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   For more information
   Call 1-800-248-8099
   or inquire via email to ICG at 102071.1201@compuserve.com
   
   International Canine Genetics
   271 Great Valley Parkway, Malvern, PA 19355
   
   ICG is a public company trading on the NASDAQ market under the symbol
   ICGI.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
    PennHip FAQ
    Internet Version kept by Bill Faulk, bill@cis.com
