Clinical Examination of the Stifle Joint

Question 1

what is the origin of the cranial cruciate ligament?

Answer 1

medial surface of lateral femoral condyle

Question 2

how is the medial meniscus fixed?

Answer 2

firm attachment to the medial collateral ligament

Question 3

is there muscle atrophy with an acute tear?

Answer 3

no

Question 4

can a partial tear have no cranial drawer?

Answer 4

yes

Question 5

how can you definitively diagnose a partial tear?

Answer 5

examination of the cruciate ligament: arthroscopy or arthrotomy

Question 6

what is the signalment of chronic tears?

Answer 6

middle age
overweight
often female

Question 7

how do chronic tears often begin?

Answer 7

as partial tears

Question 8

what is medial buttress?

Answer 8

peri-articular fibrosis on the medial aspect of the stifle joint

Question 9

how common is meniscal damage with cruciate tears?

Answer 9

20-80%

Question 10

what type of joint is the stifle joint?

Answer 10

complex hinge joint

Question 11

where does the cranial cruciate ligament insert?

Answer 11

cranial intercondyloid area of tibia

Question 12

what are the two parts of the cranial cruciate ligament?

Answer 12

cranio-medial band: smaller
caudo-lateral portin: larger

Question 13

what are the functions of the cranial cruciate ligament?

Answer 13

prevents cranial tibial subluxation
limits internal rotation
prevents hyper-extension

Question 14

what does the caudal cruciate ligament do?

Answer 14

prevents caudal translation of tibia
limits internal rotation by twisting with cranial cruciate ligament

Question 15

when is the medial collateral ligament taut?

Answer 15

flexion and extension

Question 16

are acute tears usually complete or partial?

Answer 16

complete

Question 17

when might there be no cranial drawer with a partial tear?

Answer 17

only caudolateral part is torn
craniomedial part can keep from having drawer

Question 18

how can you diagnose a partial tear?

Answer 18

stifle pain with extension
stifle pain with cranial drawer test
evidence of soft tissue opacity in lateral radiographic view
osteophytosis
definitive: examine cranial cruciate ligament directly

Question 19

what are clinical signs of a chronic tear?

Answer 19

moderate muscle atrophy
thickening on inside of stifle
positive cranial drawer especially in flexion

Question 20

what else should you check for in the knee?

Answer 20

tibial torsion
femoral varus
tibial valgus deformities

Question 21

where should you place your fingers in a tibial compression test?

Answer 21

index finger from patella to tibial tuberosity across straight patellar tendon
grasp stifle
flex tarsus

Question 22

which meniscus is commonly damaged?

Answer 22

medial meniscus

Question 23

what is the caudal pole of the medial meniscus damaged by?

Answer 23

medial femoral condyle