Case Study

ORTHO – Full and partial cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) ruptures in a 8 year old FS Labrador Retriever

This 8 year old FS Labrador Retriever dog has a history of intermittent lameness; presented today with more pain in the left hind.

DX

The ultrasonographic findings of the left stifle joint are compatible with full rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament and moderate chronic degenerative joint disease with capsular thickening, synovial proliferations, osteophytosis and cartilage breakdown. There was indication of medial and lateral meniscal degeneration. A meniscal injury was not identified. The ultrasonographic findings of the right stifle joint are suggestive for partial rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament and mild to moderate chronic degenerative joint disease with capsular thickening, synovial proliferations and osteophytosis. There was indication of medial and lateral meniscal degeneration. A meniscal injury was not identified.

Image Interpretation

Ultrasound of both stifles-

Left stifle: A moderate amount of anechoic effusion as well as moderate synovial proliferations and capsular thickening is noted within the suprapatellar and infrapatellar recess of the left stifle joint. There are moderate osteophyte formations at the periarticular margins of the stifle joint emphasizing the femoropatellar joint. Cartilage breakdown is noted at the femoral trochlea. The cranial cruciate ligament presents as a thick echogenic stump at the eminence of the tibia and is surrounded by a moderate amount of effusion and delineated by thick synovium. The visible portion of the medial meniscus is mildly heterogenous in echogenicity. There is no evidence of meniscal prolapse or rupture. The lateral meniscus is in situ with even surface and a moderate uniform overall increase in echogenicity.

Right stifle: A mild amount of anechoic effusion as well as moderate synovial thickening is noted within the suprapatellar and infrapatellar recess of the right stifle joint. There are mild osteophyte formations at the periarticular margins of the femoropatellar and femerotibial joint. The cranial cruciate ligament is uneven in thickness, non-uniform in echogenicity an irregularly delineated. It appears to comprise a continuous and a discontinuous portion. The medial and lateral meniscuses are in situ with smooth outline and a mild uniform increase in overall echogenicity.