The Stifle Flashcards
describe the anatomy of the stifle
see pic on slide
what is the function of the cranial cruciate ligament? (3)
prevent:
1. hyperextension
2. excessive internal rotation
3. cranial tibial translation
note: some internal tibial rotation occurs are you flex your knee, this is called the screw-home mechanism and is normal
describe the anatomy and function of the menisci
- fibrocartilage wedges between the femoral condyles and the tibial plateau
- mostly composed of type I collagen
- alleviate incongruity between a rounded structure and a flat surface
- functions:
-stabilization
-load bearing
-shock absorption
-joint lubrication
-mechanoreceptor
describe the etiology of CrCL disease
- less than 10% due to trauma and hyperextension
- greater than 90% are biological, due to spontaneous degeneration!!
describe traumatic CrCL disease
- may be associated with other damage to the stifle
- typically unilateral, predominantly in COMPLETE tears; can develop easily into a luxation (deranged stifle)
- in puppies is likely associated with an avulsion versus midsubstance tear in the adult
describe degenerative CrCL disease
- spontaneous
- commonly bilateral:
10% bilateral on presentation
-up to 50% will go on to rupture the other side within 1 year
-up to 60% will go on to rupture the other side within their lifetime - tear can be partial of complete, but partial tears usually progress to full tears over time
- risk factors:
-breed: labs, goldens, rotties
-sex: female >male
-altered status: neutered > intact
-dog size: larger >smaller
-obesity: implicated but not proven
-anatomy: increased tibial slope implicated
-other diseases: endocrinopathies (cushing’s)
-age: unknown if true risk factor - smaller dogs (22kgs) present later in life
- larger dogs (>22kgs) present earlier in life
describe meniscal injury
- seen when cruciates are torn due to cranial/caudal instability
- most common location: caudal horn of medial meniscus: 2 giant ligaments tack it down = less mobile in the face of abnormal movement, stuck to tibia, can’t get out of the way of the femur
- lateral: less common, can move with femur in abnormal movement; but can happen so always check during surgery!
describe history and clinical signs of CrCL disease
history:
1. non weight bearing lameness (3-legged lame has CCLR until proven otherwise = hella common!
clinical signs:
1. muscle atrophy of quadriceps
2. medial buttress
3. positive sits test: dogs with stifle ain (CCLR) often sit with the most painful stifle extended out laterally and roll onto the opposite (good) hip or limb bc it is painful to flex the stifle
4. reluctant to have stifle maximally flexed or extended
describe visual observations and palpation of CrCL disease
visual observations:
1. gait:
-look for short stride and/or obvious lameness
-look for atrophy and symmetry
2. sit test
palpation:
1. standing palpationL look for symmetry (weight bearing muscle mass)
2. recumbent palpation: CREPI, cranial drawer, cranial tibial thrust
what is the biggest difference between cranial drawer and cranial tibial thrust
cranial drawer is passive: you are moving it
cranial thrust is active: it mimics what happens when the dog bears weight
-plays a larger role in surgical repair
describe cranial caudal instability with full versus partial tears
- full tears: drawer easy to palpate
- partial tears: mild drawer often present, MUST test in flexion and extension
-caudal lateral (larger band) loos when flexed, taut in extension
-cranial medial (smaller band): taut in both flexion and extension
-test for pain on stifle hyperextension; if pain, likely at least partial tear - base a presumptive diagnosis off of radiographic findings (secondary O)
- or just rest, NSAIDs, recheck in 2-4 weeks and repeat exam bc partial tears will progress to full tears
can you see a cruciate ligament on radiograph?
NOOOOOO; checking for secondary OA and inflammatory signs instead; radiographs DO NOT reveal a torn CCL or a damaged meniscus
if radiographic findings are SOE, with specific location of stifle, most likely radiographic diagnosis is CCLR with secondary OA (EXAM!!!!!!)
what are the 3 categories of surgical options for CrCL disease?
- intracapsular
- corrective tibial osteotomies:
-TPLO
-TTA - extracapsular:
-lateral suture
describe lateral suture
objective: attempting to replace a torn ligament on the outside of the joint to mimic CrCL to neutralize the effects cranial tibial thrust and cranial drawer by replacing the damaged CrCL with the lateral suture
provides: static AND dynamic stabilization
-craniocaudal instability neutralized by extra-capsular support
–short term stability: suture material
–long term stability: suture breaks but replaced by periarticular fibrosis (RUSH to have fibrous tissue laid down, preventing early movement with suture)
clinical concerns and/or benefits:
1. has less evidence for efficacy; instability is still present in most
2. suture will break over time
3. relies on soft tissue healing (may not be as good for animals with slower or impaired healing
describe TPLO
objective: neutralize effect of cranial tibial thrust; redesign the stifle and rotate tibial plateau to be more level (like a human)
-cutting bone, so caudal cruciate MUST be intact!!!!!!!
provides: dynamic stabilization (work when dog bears weight only)
1. when weight bearing: stifle should be stable (NO craniocaudal instability/thrust)
2. when not weight bearing: cranial drawer may be palpable, but this is not abnormal, just should not have thrust
-partial tear: drawer may or may not be palpable
-full tear: drawer may be palpable but no thrust
key! after surgery, the cranial cruciate is no longer necessary for stifle stabilization under active weight bearing (dynamic procedure)
clinical concerns/benefits
1. has the best evidence for efficacy; dogs use limb quickly after surgery
2. dogs are indistinguishable from normal 6-12 months after surgery
describe TTA
objective: to neutralize the effects of cranial tibial thrust via osteotomy of the tibial tuberosity and advancing it forward/cranial; redesign stifle by placement of patellar tendon perpendicular to tibial plateau
provides dynamic stabilization only in the same way as the TPLO
clinical concerns/benefits
1. less evidence for efficacy than TPLO, results appear similar to a lateral suture
2. studies demonstrated that dogs still not normal 12 months post-op
3. removal of implants if infected can be challenging