284 Surgical Treatment
CaCL CaCL******(A) (B)Figure 33.10 (A) The caudal
cruciate ligament (CaCL) shows mild
wear (∗∗∗) before tibial plateau
leveling osteotomy and mild
progression of wear at 20 months
after surgery (B).Important findings in the study included
the observation that arthroscopic evaluation
of the stifle allowed a diagnosis of joint dis-
ease not evident radiographically. The CrCL
remained intact when early partial tears were
treated with TPLO in patients having no pal-
pable instability. Partial tears of the CrCL hav-
ing instability at the time of TPLO typically
remained intact at follow-up, but the liga-
ment remained stretched (Figure 33.14). Arthro-
scopic and radiographic evidence of increased
osteophyte formation indicates the potential
for progressive osteoarthritis in some cases
after TPLO (Figure 33.15). Synovitis was gen-
erally decreased at follow-up examination (Fig-
ure 33.16). Cases in which gross changes in the
appearance of the CaCL were present lend cre-
dence to the potentially detrimental increases in
caudal translation after TPLO. Small radial tears
of the lateral meniscus may not require treat-
ment, and the use of radiofrequency for partial
meniscectomy should be used judiciously.
Canine meniscal injuries are often found in
conjunction with CR or after surgical stabiliza-
tion of the CrCL-deficient stifle. Meniscal tears
may be displaced and easily identified. OthersCaCL CaCL(A) (B)Figure 33.11 (A) The caudal
cruciate ligament (CaCL) appears
normal before tibial plateau leveling
osteotomy (TPLO), and normal at 22
months after TPLO (B).CaCL******CaCL(A) (B)Figure 33.12 (A) The caudal
cruciate ligament (CaCL) appears
inflamed with loss of detail (∗∗∗)at
the time of tibial plateau leveling
osteotomy. Normal longitudinal
fibers of the CaCL can be seen at the
femoral attachment of the ligament.
(B) The CaCL appears to have
progressive inflammation and loss
of fiber detail (∗∗∗) 11 months after
surgery. No normal-appearing CaCL
fibers are visible.