Partial rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in 13 dogs: Clinical, radiological, clinicopathological and histopathological feature

Glyde, M.R.ORCID: 0000-0003-1433-7694, Wong, W.T., Lidbetter, D., Parry, B. and Middleton, D. (2002) Partial rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in 13 dogs: Clinical, radiological, clinicopathological and histopathological feature. Irish Veterinary Journal, 55 (6). pp. 271-276.

Abstract

Objective
To report the clinical, radiological, clinicopathological and histopathological features of the stifle joints of dogs with partial rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (PR).

Procedure
Information on patient data and results of physical, radiological and surgical examination, synovial fluid and histopathological analysis from stifle joints of 13 dogs treated for PR at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic and Hospital was evaluated.

Results
Rupture of the craniomedial band (CMB) was most common. In five dogs a cranial drawer sign was present in flexion only and was absent in one dog. Ipsilateral stifle joint effusion and osteoarthritis were present in 11 cases. Contralateral osteoarthritis was present in ten cases. Synovial fluid was non-inflammatory (mean total cell count 2.0 × 109/L, SEM 0.2, range 1.1 to 2.7; mean neutrophil percentage 5.5, SEM 2.95, range 0 to 30). Mild synovitis was present on histopathological examination with mild diffuse plasmacytic infiltration of the subsynovial tissue being most common. No evidence of primary immune-mediated arthropathy was identified.

Conclusions
Testing for cranial drawer with the stifle joint in a flexed position will increase the sensitivity of the cranial drawer test in diagnosing PR. Absence of a cranial drawer sign does not rule out PR. Abnormalities consistent with chronic degenerative joint disease are apparent in the majority of stifle joints with PR. Ipsilateral stifle joint osteoarthritis and effusion and contralateral osteoarthritis are likely to be present. Synovial fluid analysis is consistent with a non-inflammatory degenerative arthropathy. Mild diffuse plasmacytic or lymphoplasmacytic synovitis is typical of PR.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publisher:	Irish Veterinary Association
Publisher's Website:	http://www.irishvetjournal.org/
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/59648

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