Radiographs were taken under sedation which showed a large amount of swelling
within the knee joint. There was also some abnormal mobility in the knee upon palpation. From these findings a diagnosis of cranial cruciate rupture was made.
The knee joint (stifle) is a common site for disorders in the dog. This joint represents the articulation between the femur and the tibia. The
cranial cruciate ligament is located inside the knee and aids in stabilization.
Surgical correction of the torn ligament was indicated for Amelia.
During surgery the joint was opened and as suspected the ligament was heavily damaged and removed. The meniscus, a cartilage cushion between the femur and tibia, is commonly damaged along
with the cranial cruciate ligament. Luckily Amelia's menisci were both intact. An extracapsular repair was done to approximate the
job of the cruciate ligament and a soft cast immobilization aid was then placed on the leg.
The function of the cast is to maintain progressive controlled
movement in the post-operative period. Humans who undergo the same surgical repair must follow a strict physical therapy regimen to
allow controlled movement and stress on the knee. Unfortunately, most of our dog patients have their own agendas (squirrels, stairs,
mailmen). The soft cast permits minimal movement initially while the dog is walking. Then, every 2 weeks, the pet is re-evaluated and the
cast destabilized. This means if she is using the leg well in a controlled environment some layers of the cast may be removed.
This allows a slight increase in mobility and added stress to the joint to aid in progressive healing. Most dogs wear the cast for 6-10
weeks before removal. Owners must continue physical therapy for another 1-2 months until the healing process is complete.
This procedure is not a cure, but allows the patient comfortable use
of the limb and dramatically slows arthritis formation. Overall return to function is between 80-90%. Owners should also be aware that
cruciate ligament problems are not always a result of a traumatic event, but more likely due to poor hind leg conformation. Breeding programs should attempt to eliminate this conformation problem to
lessen the incidence of disease.
Amelia is still recuperating at home and undergoing physical therapy. It has been about 12 weeks since her surgery was done
and she is doing well. Although her healing phase is not complete, she is continually making improvements and seems much more comfortable than before the surgery.
Amelia, a nine year old boxer, presented to Heritage Animal Hospital, Ltd. with a right hind limb lameness of 2 weeks duration. At that time, she was in a moderate degree of
pain and unable to bear much weight on the leg.
