The patient is a 4 year old F Cocker Spaniel Dog with a 1 year history of intermittent lameness on the left hind leg; currently on KBR and Phenobarbital for seizures. No cranial drawer appreciated in the left hind leg
The patient is a 4 year old F Cocker Spaniel Dog with a 1 year history of intermittent lameness on the left hind leg; currently on KBR and Phenobarbital for seizures. No cranial drawer appreciated in the left hind leg
Ultrasonographic findings –
Left stifle joint:
Both the supra- and infrapatellar recess of the left stifle joint are devoid of effusion.
The joint capsule is even and thin. There is no synovial proliferation noted.
The cartilage layers as appreciated at the femoral trochlea within the patellar and at the
femoral condyles sulcus are even in thickness and smooth in outline.
An emerging osteophyte is noted at the femoral trochlea next to the sulcus of the
patella. The remainder of the periarticular margins are free of osteophytes.
The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is continuous and smooth in outline with regular
homogenous echotexture. No periligamentous effusion is present. The caudal cruciate
ligament is is continuous and smooth in outline with regular homogenous echotexture.
The infrapatellar fat body is regular for echogenicity and echotexture.
The medial meniscus is in situ with even surface and uniform echogenicity. The lateral
meniscus is in situ with even surface and uniform echogenicity. No meniscal disruption is seen. No perimeniscal effusion is noted.
Right stifle joint:
Both the supra- and infrapatellar recess of the right stifle joint are devoid of effusion.
The joint capsule is even and thin. There is no synovial proliferation noted.
The cartilage layers as appreciated at the femoral trochlea within the patellar and at the
femoral condyles sulcus are even in thickness and smooth in outline.
An emerging osteophyte is noted at the femoral trochlea next to the sulcus of the
patella. The remainder of the periarticular margins are free of osteophytes.
The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is continuous and smooth in outline with regular
homogenous echotexture. No periligamentous effusion is present. The caudal cruciate
ligament is continuous and smooth in outline with regular homogenous echotexture.
The infrapatellar fat body is regular for echogenicity and echotexture.
The medial meniscus is not seen. The lateral meniscus is in situ with even surface and
uniform echogenicity.
Biomechanical failure of the cranial cruciate ligament and meniscal injury can be ruled
out as underlying cause of the lameness at this point. And currently there is no sign of
any other relevant arthropathy.
Note: even if very unlikely other pathologies – such as luxation/subluxation of the
patella and musculotendinopathy of the gastrocnemius muscle (this is usually only
seen in working dogs though) – cannot be ruled out entirely based on this examination.
