Case Study

ORTHO – Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) complete rupture of the right stifle in a 6 year old MN Labrador Retriever dog

This 6 year old MN Labrador Retriever dog had TPLO surgery left stifle one year ago. Acute lameness episode one week ago right hind.

Physical exam: Equivocal positive cranial drawer sign but likely positive. Hardly weight bearing on right hind leg. No significant coxofemoral pathology on radiograph.

This 6 year old MN Labrador Retriever dog had TPLO surgery left stifle one year ago. Acute lameness episode one week ago right hind.

Physical exam: Equivocal positive cranial drawer sign but likely positive. Hardly weight bearing on right hind leg. No significant coxofemoral pathology on radiograph.

DX

The ultrasonographic findings are compatible with cranial cruciate ligament pathology and support full rupture with biomechanical failure of the ligament

Image Interpretation

Ultrasound of the right stifle- A moderate amount of anechoic effusion and moderate synovial thickening and
proliferation is noted within the suprapatellar and infrapatellar recesses of the
right stifle joint. Moderate osteophyte formations are noted at the periarticular
margins.
The femoral trochlea cartilage is mildly uneven in thickness and reveals slight
increase in overall echogenicity.
The infrapatellar fat pad presents moderate heterogeneity and multifocal cyst
formation, which is consistent with degeneration.
The cranial cruciate ligament is discontinuous and presents as a short echogenic
stump at the tibial eminence surrounded by scant effusion and mild thickening
of the synovial lining.
The medial meniscus is in situ and smooth in outline. The lateral meniscus
reveals several non-shadowing echogenic foci, but is in situ with smooth outline.

Outcome

Moderate signs of a generalized chronic degenerative joint disease are noted.
There is evidence of cartilage breakdown within the femoral trochlea. Meniscal
pathology is not evident.