Cranial Tibial Translation Research Articles

The Use and Interpretation of Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) in Dogs in Cranial Cruciate Ligament Lesions

In this study, 7 dogs of various breed, age and sex, which were referred to the Clinics of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, were used as study materials. Clinical radiological and arthroscopical examinations revealed 7 dogs were having unilateral CCL lesions. Tibial plato levelling Osteotomy operation was performed to stabilize the stifle joints. Operation results were evaluated clinically and radiological. According to the postoperative clinical and radiological examination. The TPLO technique with TPLO plate include locking screw mechanism was preferable for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament ruptures of large breed dogs. Introduction The canine stifle joint is a hinge joint with two interdependent compartments; the femoropatellar joint and the femoro-tibial joint. The major motion of this joint is flexion and extention in a para-sagittal plane. However, internal rotation of the tibia and a small degree of cranial tibial translation also occurs normally. These later two motions are closely constrained by the two ligaments. In dogs rupture of the CLL seems to occur in most cases due to prior degeneration of the

Abnormal reflex activation of hamstring muscles in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture

The mechanisms underlying cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) in dogs are poorly understood. In this study hamstring muscle reflexes in response to cranial tibial translation were analysed to determine whether these active stabilisers of the stifle joint are differently activated in dogs with CCLR compared to control dogs. In a prospective clinical study reflex muscle activity from the lateral and medial hamstring muscles (biceps femoris and semimembranosus) was recorded using surface electrodes in control dogs (n=21) and dogs with CCLR (n=22). These electromyographic recordings were analysed using an algorithm previously validated in humans.The hamstring reflex was reliably and reproducibly recorded in normal dogs. Both a short latency response (SLR, 17.6±2.1ms) and a medium latency response (MLR, 37.7±2.7ms) could be identified. In dogs with unilateral CCLR, the SLR and MLR were not significantly different between the affected and the unaffected limbs, but the MLR latency of both affected and unaffected limbs in CCLR dogs were significantly prolonged compared to controls. In conclusion, the hamstring reflex can be recorded in dogs and the MLR is prolonged in dogs with CCLR. Since both affected and unaffected limbs exhibit prolonged MLR, it is possible that abnormal hamstring reflex activation is a mechanism by which progressive CCL damage may occur. The methodology allows for further investigation of the relationship between neuromuscular imbalance and CCLR or limitations in functional recovery following surgical intervention.

Contralateral Cruciate Survival in Dogs with Unilateral Non-Contact Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture

BackgroundNon-contact cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CrCLR) is an important cause of lameness in client-owned dogs and typically occurs without obvious injury. There is a high incidence of bilateral rupture at presentation or subsequent contralateral rupture in affected dogs. Although stifle synovitis increases risk of contralateral CrCLR, relatively little is known about risk factors for subsequent contralateral rupture, or whether therapeutic intervention may modify this risk.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe conducted a longitudinal study examining survival of the contralateral CrCL in client-owned dogs with unilateral CrCLR in a large baseline control population (n = 380), and a group of dogs that received disease-modifying therapy with arthroscopic lavage, intra-articular hyaluronic acid and oral doxycycline (n = 16), and were followed for one year. Follow-up in treated dogs included analysis of mobility, radiographic evaluation of stifle effusion and arthritis, and quantification of biomarkers of synovial inflammation. We found that median survival of the contralateral CrCL was 947 days. Increasing tibial plateau angle decreased contralateral ligament survival, whereas increasing age at diagnosis increased survival. Contralateral ligament survival was reduced in neutered dogs. Our disease-modifying therapy did not significantly influence contralateral ligament survival. Correlative analysis of clinical and biomarker variables with development of subsequent contralateral rupture revealed few significant results. However, increased expression of T lymphocyte-associated genes in the index unstable stifle at diagnosis was significantly related to development of subsequent non-contact contralateral CrCLR.ConclusionSubsequent contralateral CrCLR is common in client-owned dogs, with a median ligament survival time of 947 days. In this naturally occurring model of non-contact cruciate ligament rupture, cranial tibial translation is preceded by development of synovial inflammation. However, treatment with arthroscopic lavage, intra-articular hyaluronic acid and oral doxycycline does not significantly influence contralateral CrCL survival.

Synovitis in Dogs with Stable Stifle Joints and Incipient Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture: A Cross‐Sectional Study

To evaluate stifle joints of dogs for synovitis, before development of joint instability and cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CrCLR). Cross-sectional study. Dogs (n = 16) with CrCLR and stable contralateral stifles; 10 control dogs with intact CrCL. Arthritis and tibial translation were graded radiographically. Synovitis severity and cruciate pathology were assessed arthroscopically. Presence of inflammatory cells in synovial membrane biopsies was scored histologically. CrCLR stifle pairs and control stifles were compared. Radiographic evidence of arthritis, cranial tibial translation, and arthroscopic synovitis were increased in unstable stifles, when compared with stable contralateral stifles in CrCLR dogs (P < .05). Arthroscopic synovitis in both joints of CrCLR dogs was increased compared with controls, was correlated with radiographic arthritis (S(R) = 0.71, P < .05), and was present in all stable contralateral stifles. Arthroscopically, 75% of stable stifle joints had CrCL fiber disruption, which correlated with severity of synovitis (S(R) = 0.56, P < .05). Histologic evidence of synovitis was identified in all CrCLR dogs, but was only significantly correlated with arthroscopic observations in stable stifles (r(2) = 0.57, P < .005). Synovitis is an early feature of the CrCLR arthropathy in dogs before development of joint instability clinically. Severity of synovitis is correlated with radiographic arthritis in joints with minimal to no clinically detectable CrCL damage.

Effect of 9 mm Tibial Tuberosity Advancement on Cranial Tibial Translation in the Canine Cranial Cruciate Ligament‐Deficient Stifle

To assess the effect of 9 mm tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) on cranial tibial translation (CTT) in a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL)-deficient canine stifle model. In vitro cadaveric study. Canine pelvic limbs (n=12). Each stifle was placed in a jig at 135 degrees with a simulated quadriceps force and tibial axial force. CTT distance was measured with the CCL intact (iCCL), transected (tCCL), and after performing TTA using a 9 mm cage. Mean CTT for iCCL was 0.42 mm, 1.58 mm after severing the CCL, and 1.06 mm post-TTA. The tCCL CTT measured without any quadriceps force was 2.59 mm. Differences between the intact and tCCL (P<.0001) and tCCL and TTA (P=.0003) were significant. The difference between the tCCL with and without the quadriceps force was not significant (P=.0597). These data confirm that TTA does reduce CTT in tCCL stifles in this model. The CTT noted was less than that noted clinically. The addition of a simulated quadriceps force to a CCL-deficient stifle before a TTA, by itself, may not significantly lessen CTT. Whereas this in vitro model demonstrated that TTA reduced CTT in canine stifles with CCL transected, the model limitations preclude extrapolation to the effect of TTA in a live dog.