EVERYONE WILL NOT UNDERSTAND YOU or YOUR CHOICES! “When you are a giraffe and you are getting criticism from a turtle, understand that the turtle is speaking based on the level it’s on. -T.D. Jakes

DISEASES OF THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM PART 2

TRAUMA: Ligament Injury – Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Posterior Cruciate Ligament stabilize knee joint Ruptured ACL – most common stifle injury and leads to Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) May be complete rupture or partial tear => unstable joint => DJD

TRAUMA: CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURY/RUPTURE

CLINICAL SIGNS OF CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURY/RUPTURE Highly active, athletic animals Middle-aged obese dog

CLINICAL SIGNS OF CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURY/RUPTURE Animal is acutely non wt. bearing on the rear leg after hyperextending the stifle joint Joint effusion

TRAUMA: CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE Cranial drawer test Tibial compression test

CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE REPAIR Extra-articular Stabilization *Most successful in patients less than 15kg

CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE REPAIR Intra-articular stabilization: Over-the-top patellar tendon graft or fascial graft

CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE REPAIR Intra-articular stabilization technique TPLO – Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy

CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE – CLIENT INFO Restrict activity 3-4 weeks post surgery Cage rest Leash walk only to urinate and defecate Gradually increase exercise 4-8 wks post sx Full activity 8-12 weeks Opposite cruciate often tears within 1 yr Weight loss helps DJD of stifle joint is likely If no surgery, joint thickens from new fibrous tissue formation in an attempt to stabilize itself