Clinical and radiographic evaluation of canine stifle joint after surgical stabilization for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture: retrospective study of three years

This study aimed a clinical and radiographic evaluation of stifle joint of dogs with up to two and a half years of postoperative correction of cranial cruciate ligament rupture. A retrospective study of three years has been done, based on the animals files treated at the Hospital Veterinario da Universidade Estadual de Londrina, underwent this surgery during the period from February 2008 to February 2011. Totalizing 28 cases and 33 stifle joints, which were performed different surgical techniques for joint stabilization. The prevalence was female, middle aged over seven years and dogs weighing over 25 kg. Eighty-two percent of the animals showed satisfactory clinical improvement, independent of surgical technique. Despite the progression of arthrosis and the persistence of discrete drawer movement in the postoperative period, no evident clinical differences were noted in relation to lameness. Lighter animals showed better prognosis. There was no evident difference between the surgical techniques in relation to the parameters evaluated in the postoperative period.