Front Matter

372 Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

The patient’s age, size, conformation, activity
level, and concurrent medical conditions are
considered when selecting the surgical proce­
dure. A thorough evaluation of the joint must
be performed at the time of surgery, regard­
less of the type of stabilization performed
(Figure 14.23).

Meniscus

A thorough evaluation of the meniscus with a
probe is performed (Thieman et al., 2006; Pozzi
et al., 2008; Cook et al., 2010a). Missed meniscal

damage is the most common cause of proce­

dural failure in one report (Thieman et al.,

2006). The damaged portion of the meniscus is

excised, with an attempt to preserve as much

of the meniscal rim as possible. If the rim is

damaged, a caudal pole hemimeniscectomy or

meniscal release is performed. Isolated meniscal

lesions are rare in dogs but have been reported

in both the medial and lateral menisci (Ridge,

2006; Williams, 2010).

Stabilization techniques

Extracapsular techniques

Variations of extracapsular repair are among

the most popular CCL procedures to date.

These techniques passively stabilize the stifle

by neutralizing cranial drawer via the formation

of periarticular fibrosis. The most frequently

performed extracapsular technique is the lat­

eral fabellar suture (LFS) repair. This technique

involves passing a nonabsorbable synthetic

suture external to the joint capsule in either a

figure eight or loop pattern around the lateral

fabella, and through a hole made in the tibial

crest. A knot or a stainless steel crimp clamp

is  used to hold the suture material taut.

Alternatively, two tibial tunnels may be made

and the suture passed through these rather

than under the patellar tendon. While the

suture material will eventually stretch or break,

it is meant to provide temporary stabilization

Caudal cruciate - intact

CCL tear - partial

Figure 14.22 Arthroscopic image showing a partial cranial cruciate ligament tear.

Probe

Cartilage damage grade IV

Figure 14.23 Severe cartilage erosion in a dog with
cranial cruciate ligament rupture.