Cruciate disease Flashcards
2 cruciates ligs - which one is usually injured?
- Cranial –> usu injured
2. Caudal
what direction does the cranial cruciate ligament run in the stifle?
the same direction you put your hands into your pock
from prox caudal to distal cranial.
what are the CrCL 3 functions?
- prevent cranial displacement of tibia
- limit internal tibial rotation
- prevent stifle hyperextension
what cause CrCL rupture?
- excessive stress on a normal ligament (uncommon)
- normal stress on an abnormal ligament ie. degeneration (most common form)
why do CrCLs degenerate?
- the interior and the central part of the CrCL degenerate w/ age
- occurs earlier and is more severe in larger breed dogs
- DJD
what are the two functional bands of CrCL?
- craniomedial band: taut during flexion + extension
- caudolateral band: only taut during extension
typical presentation of chronic degeneration of CrCL
intermittent lameness typical of OA is seen for several months –> eventually if ignored/not diagnosed lig degen will progress to rupture w/ sudden deteriorate to marked lameness dt complete rupture +/- meniscal damage
Pex findings of chronic progressive degeneration of the cruciate ligament
- lameness
- medial buttress (pathognomonic for cruciate disease)
- muscle atrophy
- periarticular fibrosis
- joint effusion
- +/- crepitus
- decreased ROM stifle
- +/- stifle joint instability (cranial drawer sign/cranial tibial thrust)
typical CrCL degen stance is:
- tripod stance/forward press
what is the positive sit test?
dogs with cruciate disease will commonly avoid sitting squarely w/ full stifle joint flexion, as this if painful –> will sit unevenly and leave the sore stifle joint slightly extended.
cranial drawer is testing for..
passive laxity of the stifle joint
cranial tibial thrust is testing for…
CCL incompetence and stifle joint instability
‘pseudo-physiologic’ test of stifle joint laxity
if the only the craniomedial band of the CrCL is torn will there be cranial drawer?
Not in extension as the caudolateral band is functional during extension
Present in flexion.
if the only the caudolateral band of the CrCL is torn will there be cranial drawer?
No cranial drawer present as craniomedial band functional in extension and flexion
risk of meniscal injury is how many times higher if stifle joint instability exists
> 160times higher