Clinical Examination of the Stifle Joint Flashcards
what is the origin of the cranial cruciate ligament?
medial surface of lateral femoral condyle
how is the medial meniscus fixed?
firm attachment to the medial collateral ligament
is there muscle atrophy with an acute tear?
no
can a partial tear have no cranial drawer?
yes
how can you definitively diagnose a partial tear?
examination of the cruciate ligament: arthroscopy or arthrotomy
what is the signalment of chronic tears?
middle age
overweight
often female
how do chronic tears often begin?
as partial tears
what is medial buttress?
peri-articular fibrosis on the medial aspect of the stifle joint
how common is meniscal damage with cruciate tears?
20-80%
what type of joint is the stifle joint?
complex hinge joint
where does the cranial cruciate ligament insert?
cranial intercondyloid area of tibia
what are the two parts of the cranial cruciate ligament?
cranio-medial band: smaller
caudo-lateral portin: larger
what are the functions of the cranial cruciate ligament?
prevents cranial tibial subluxation
limits internal rotation
prevents hyper-extension
what does the caudal cruciate ligament do?
prevents caudal translation of tibia
limits internal rotation by twisting with cranial cruciate ligament
when is the medial collateral ligament taut?
flexion and extension
are acute tears usually complete or partial?
complete
when might there be no cranial drawer with a partial tear?
only caudolateral part is torn
craniomedial part can keep from having drawer
how can you diagnose a partial tear?
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
what are clinical signs of a chronic tear?
moderate muscle atrophy
thickening on inside of stifle
positive cranial drawer especially in flexion
what else should you check for in the knee?
tibial torsion
femoral varus
tibial valgus deformities
where should you place your fingers in a tibial compression test?
index finger from patella to tibial tuberosity across straight patellar tendon
grasp stifle
flex tarsus
which meniscus is commonly damaged?
medial meniscus
what is the caudal pole of the medial meniscus damaged by?
medial femoral condyle
