Case Study

ORTHO – Degenerative joint disease (DJD) with complete cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in a 2 years old FS Labrador dog

This 2 year old FS Labrador dog has a history of favoring the right hind leg for the past 6 months. Intermittent, worse after excercise and after rest.

Physical exam: positive Sits test, positive cranial drawer and CTT right stifle. Suspect CCL injury.

This 2 year old FS Labrador dog has a history of favoring the right hind leg for the past 6 months. Intermittent, worse after excercise and after rest.

Physical exam: positive Sits test, positive cranial drawer and CTT right stifle. Suspect CCL injury.

Image Interpretation

Ultrasound of the right stifle – Marked anechoic effusion is noted within the suprapatellar recess and mild effusion within the infrapatellar recess of the right stifle joint. The synovial membranes are moderately thickened.
A moderate amount of osteophytes is seen at the periarticular margins of the femoropatellar and femorotibial joints. The cartilage within the femoral trochlea has increased in echogenicity with mild surface irregularity. The medial femoral condylar cartilage surface reveals mild surface irregularity as well.
The cranial cruciate ligament is continuous with an echogenic stump at the intercondylar eminence of the tibia. A thin band of fibres can be traced proximad towards the intercondylar region. Mild periligamentous effusion is seen.
The caudal horn of the medial meniscus is not directly seen. The visible portion of the medial meniscus is in situ, uniform in echogenicity and smooth in outline. The lateral meniscus presents a mild overall increase in echogenicity with a mild surface irregularity.

DX

The ultrasonographic examination of the right stifle joint is compatible with cranial cruciate ligament pathology with biomechanical failure as a result of a chronic degenerative joint disease with moderate generalized osteoarthritis and emerging cartilage breakdown.

Outcome

Full biomechanical failure of the cranial cruciate ligament is assumed even though a trace amount of fibres may be maintained.
A medial meniscal pathology was not seen.
The findings of the lateral meniscus support meniscal degeneration. A meniscal injury was not seen.
Surgical therapy addressing the biomechanical failure and preventing the progression of the DJD & further damage is indicated.