Ashour AE, Hoffman CL, Muir P. Correlation between orthopaedic and radiographic examination findings and arthroscopic ligament fibre damage in dogs with cruciate ligament rupture.
Aust Vet J 2019;
97:490-498. [PMID:
31565798 DOI:
10.1111/avj.12878]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The objective is to study the correlations between physical examination and stifle radiography findings and severity of arthroscopic cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) fibre damage in dogs with cruciate rupture (CR).
DESIGN
Design Prospective clinical study.
METHODS
Twenty-nine client-owned dogs with CR underwent physical examination, stifle radiography and arthroscopy, and the findings were recorded. Initial examination was repeated after sedation and after general anaesthesia. The Spearman rank correlations of examination variables with diagnostic imaging were examined.
RESULTS
Overall, cranial tibial translation assessed by the tibial compression test in extension showed correlation with arthroscopic CrCL fibre damage (P < 0.05). Correlations between severity of cranial drawer laxity and arthroscopic CrCL fibre damage were not significant. Under general anaesthesia, stifle laxity tests were positively correlated with lameness severity grade (SR ≥ 0.41, P < 0.05). Meniscal damage was correlated with pain on the internal rotation of the tibia (SR = 0.42, P < 0.05) and severity of radiographic osteophytosis (SR = 0.53, P = 0.01).
CONCLUSION
Detection and estimation of severity of cranial tibial translation enable the diagnosis of CR and also the inference of the severity of CrCL fibre rupture, particularly with the tibial compression test in extension. Severity of joint laxity is best assessed under general anaesthesia. Such knowledge should reduce the risk of misdiagnosis and may enhance early diagnosis and treatment of dogs with CR over time.
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