Canine Cruciate Ligament Rupture Repairs

Hind limb lameness is often caused by rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in the stifle or knee joint. This condition can be either;

Degenerative (progressively getting worse) and occurring over an extended period of time
Acute (sudden onset), due to rotational instability at a specific time e.g. injuring it while chasing a ball
Acute or chronic sudden force causes the degenerated fibres of the ligament to tear.

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The knee joint

The knee joint consists of the top of the tibia/fibula associated with a padded meniscus cup in contact with the lower surface of the femur. Between the two bones are the cruciate ligaments – cranial and caudal, that cross over in the joint and act to keep the bones from sliding over each other. Collateral ligaments run on either side of the joint to prevent the bones from sliding side to side.

This injury can occur at any age and in any breed, but most frequently occurs in middle aged, overweight medium to large breed dogs.

How does the injury occur?

The ligament injury occurs when the forces involved are too strong in a certain direction. Usually an acute (sudden) cruciate injury occurs when the lower half of the leg remains still and the upper half (above the knee joint) is forced to rotate.

Such events can occur when an animal leaps up or down and twists with take-off or landing, places their foot in a hole or between stairs and continues to move forward, or even when they suddenly stop running or changes direction. The cranial cruciate ligament is the one most commonly affected in these situations.

How do you diagnose a cruciate ligament rupture?

Diagnosis is based on history as well as a physical exam. Dogs with a ruptured cruciate ligament tend to be quite lame. Clinically, joint swelling may be felt on the affected limb. Patients with a cruciate ligament deficient knee tend to display pain on extension of the joint.

Diagnosis involves manipulation of the joint under heavy sedation and radiographic assessment of the affected leg. Common test performed are:

The “cranial drawer sign” test

This involves holding the stifle joint with one hand on the femur and one on the tibia/fibula. The vet tries to move the bones backward and forward to produces “draw” or give. In a normal knee joint there is little to no movement and there is no pain. In an animal with a rupture, there is marked movement or sliding of one bone in front of the other, as shown in the diagram. Pain can accompany the movement.

The tibial thrust test

This involves the stifle held in slight flexion and the hock being flexed and extended to draw thrust from the tibia forward in relation to the femur.

Occasionally a general anaesthetic may be required if palpation is too painful for the animal or if the animal is not relaxed enough to allow a thorough examination.

Ligament strains do occur but generally we see a partial or complete rupture to the ligament. The only way to stabilise the stifle is through surgery. Without surgery, the ligament will not repair or restore its important function. This is the most common cause of hind limb lameness in dogs. For this reason, several types of surgery have been done throughout the years, but patient selection is very important to obtain the best outcome.

What does the surgery do?

Surgically, the stifle joint is opened up and explored to confirm the diagnosis of a partial or complete cruciate ligament rupture. At this time remaining strands of ligament can be cleaned out, the joint flushed and the meniscus inspected and treated for tears. The surgeon can then begin the repair.

The most common techniques to repair a ruptured cruciate are;

TPLO (Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy)
TTO (Triple Tibial Osteotomy)
TTA (Tibial Tuberosity Advancement)
De Angelis Technique

If you’re concernced your pet may have ruptured their cruciate, please contact us to book a consultation and assessment.

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Cruiciate repairs at The Vet Lounge

At The Vet Lounge, cruciate surgery is performed by our highly experienced veterinarian, Dr. Andres Townsend, in our fully equipped, state-of-the-art orthopaedic suite.

We offer advanced anaesthetic monitoring and a specialised heating system that circulates warm air through a disposable blanket placed over or under your pet. This precise temperature control ensures consistent warmth, promoting faster recovery times without overheating.

A senior nurse provides dedicated attention to your pet throughout the procedure, tailoring anaesthetic care to meet their unique needs, such as adjusting drug dosages, fluid therapy, or warming. This personalised care ensures your pet’s safety and well-being during anaesthesia.

Included in our Cruciate Repairs:

1-Hour Consultation with Canine Rehab Centre: A thorough professional assessment by Janet, our in-house rehab practitioner.
Laser Therapy: To promote healing and reduce pain.
Manual Therapy: To improve comfort and mobility.

Janet and the Canine Rehab Centre team are here to help your dog recover safely and efficiently, ensuring the best possible outcome. All under the same roof as your pets surgeon.

For more information visit www.caninerehabcentre.com.au