Search Results

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate severity of medial patellar luxation (MPL) and frequency of concomitant cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) in dogs.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—162 dogs (266 stifle joints).

Procedures—Medical records of 162 small-breed dogs with MPL were reviewed. Signalment, body weight, luxation grade, bilateral or unilateral MPL, CCLR, and difference in luxation grades between stifle joints were evaluated. Association between severity of MPL and CCLR was investigated.

Results—58 dogs had unilateral MPL, and 104 dogs had bilateral MPL. Dogs ranged from 8.4 months to 16.7 years of age (mean, 5.7 years), and mean body weight was 5.45 kg (12 lb). Forty-one percent of all dogs had concomitant CCLR. Mean age for dogs with MPL alone was 3.0 years, which differed significantly from mean age of dogs with MPL and concomitant CCLR (7.8 years). Dogs with grade IV MPL were significantly more likely to have concomitant CCLR than were dogs with any other grade of MPL. In dogs with bilateral MPL and unilateral CCLR, there was a significantly higher grade of luxation in the stifle joint with CCLR.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Small-breed dogs with MPL and concomitant CCLR were older than were dogs with only MPL. Dogs with grade IV MPL were more likely to have CCLR than were dogs with other grades of MPL. Most dogs with concomitant CCLR had a higher MPL grade in the affected stifle joint than in the intact joint. These findings should be beneficial in client education and clinical diagnosis.

Abstract

Objective—To determine peak vertical force (PVF) and vertical impulse (VI) in cats that had or had not undergone bilateral forelimb onychectomy.

Animals—26 healthy adult cats.

Procedure—Onychectomized cats (n = 13) had undergone surgery more than 6 months prior to the study. The PVF and VI were collected from all limbs of each cat with a 2-m pressure platform walkway. Cats were allowed to walk at a comfortable velocity, and acceleration was restricted to ± 0.5 m/s². Five valid trials were recorded for each cat with all trials collected in a single 1-hour session. All forces were normalized to and expressed as a percentage of the cat's body weight.

Results—Gait data were successfully collected in all cats. No significant difference was found for PVF or VI between cats that had or had not had onychectomy. Limb loads were greater in forelimbs than hind limbs for all trials. Mean PVF and VI in the forelimbs of cats in the nononychectomy group were 56.41% and 18.85%, respectively. Mean PVF and VI in the hind limbs of cats in the nononychectomy group were 50.22% and 14.56%, respectively.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Gait analysis was successfully performed in cats with a pressure platform walkway. The absence of differences in PVF and VI between the 2 groups of cats suggests that bilateral forelimb onychectomy did not result in altered vertical forces measured more than 6 months after surgery in cats. (Am J Vet Res 2004;65:1276–1278)

Abstract

Objective—To determine the outcome and effect of surgical technique on limb function after surgery for rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (RCCL) and injury to the medial meniscus in Labrador Retrievers.

Study Design—Prospective clinical study.

Animals—131 Labrador Retrievers with unilateral RCCL and injury to the medial meniscus and 17 clinically normal Labrador Retrievers.

Procedure—Affected dogs had partial or complete medial meniscectomy and lateral suture stabilization (LSS), intracapsular stabilization (ICS), or tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Limb function was measured before surgery and 2 and 6 months after surgery. Treated dogs were evaluated to determine the probability that they could be differentiated from clinically normal dogs and tested to determine the likelihood that they achieved improvement.

Results—No difference was found between LSS or TPLO groups, but dogs treated with ICS had significantly lower ground reaction forces at 2 and 6 months. Compared with clinically normal dogs only, 14.9% of LSS-, 15% of ICS-, and 10.9% of TPLO-treated dogs had normal limb function. Improvement was seen in only 15% of dogs treated via ICS, 34% treated via TPLO, and 40% treated via LSS.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Surgical technique can influence limb function after surgery. Labrador Retrievers treated via LSS, ICS, or TPLO for repair for of RCCL and medial meniscal injury managed with partial or complete meniscectomy infrequently achieve normal function. Results of LSS and TPLO are similar and superior to ICS. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005;226:232–236)