Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective was to establish the reference standards for elastography of the main structures of the canine stifle joint. The medial meniscus, patellar and cruciate ligaments of thirty healthy beagles was evaluated by B-mode and ARFI elastography (n=60 joints). Analysis detected a positive correlation of the shear wave velocity (SWV) of structures according to age. Patellar ligament presented a gradual stiffness increase in relation to age, while medial meniscus and cruciate ligament were more rigid in puppies than in adults. However, greater stiffness of these structures was observed in elderly animals. Elasticity of each structure was evaluated according to gender and reproductive status. Females presented greater stiffness of all structures, with SWV differing 0.3 and 0.36m/s between genders. Only the medial meniscus was not stiffer in neutered animals when compared to intact animals, differing only 0.02m/s in menisci and 0.4 to 0.47m/s in ligaments between groups. These findings corroborate with literature data that states a higher prevalence of ligament insufficiency in elderly dogs, females and neutered animals. It was concluded that ARFI elastography of the canine stifle joint is feasible and its application can be potentially effective in early diagnosis of ligament and meniscal changes.
Highlights
The high prevalence of stifle joint injuries in dogs is due to its morphostructural characteristics and the strength to which they are submitted
Considering that stifle joint ligament abnormalities have been treated as degenerative disease, in which chronicity of the injuries and their consequences may promote changes in tissue morphological and elastic characteristics (Duval et al, 1992), it is believed in the diagnostic potential of the ARFI technique for accurate joint evaluation in sick dogs
To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study regarding ARFI elastographic characteristics of the stifle joint of healthy dogs of different ages, which reinforces the importance of the information obtained
Summary
The high prevalence of stifle joint injuries in dogs is due to its morphostructural characteristics and the strength to which they are submitted. The cranial cruciate ligament has great importance in joint stability and its insufficiency causes a cascade of events that chronically culminate in degenerative joint disease (Prada et al, 2018) Nowadays, imaging modalities, such as conventional ultrasonography, allow evaluation of physical ligament discontinuity and its physical and/or biomechanical consequences, they are not capable of evaluating the composition and structural modifications of the ligament itself and adjacent structures (Mariano and Loughin, 2010). Considering that stifle joint ligament abnormalities have been treated as degenerative disease, in which chronicity of the injuries and their consequences (hyalinization, mineralization, loss of fibroblasts and chondroid metaplasia of the remnants) may promote changes in tissue morphological and elastic characteristics (Duval et al, 1992), it is believed in the diagnostic potential of the ARFI technique for accurate joint evaluation in sick dogs
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