Injuries to the cranial cruciate ligament and associated structures: summary of clinical, radiographic, arthroscopic and pathological findings from 10 horses.
- Journal Article
Summary
The research article presents findings on injuries to the cranial cruciate ligament in 10 horses, examining clinical signs, radiographic results, arthroscopic examinations, and post mortem examinations.
Clinical Findings
The most consistent clinical signs observed in injured horses were:
- Moderate to severe distension of the femoropatellar joint, which is the joint of the thigh bone and the kneecap.
- A lameness grading between Grade III to Grade V on a maximum scale of V, illustrating varying levels of difficulty in movement.
In addition, craniocaudal instability, a condition where the bones forming the stifle joint show abnormal movement, could be elicited in five horses under general anaesthesia and in one conscious horse.
Radiographic Findings
Radiographic evaluations were conducted to further understand the nature and severity of the injuries. Among the common pathologies found, avulsion fracture – a type of fracture where a fragment of bone is torn away from the main mass of bone as a result of physical trauma – of the medial intercondyloid eminence was detected in six out of ten horses. This specific type of fracture is most likely linked to cranial cruciate ligament injuries.
Arthroscopic Examinations
Arthroscopic examinations of the femorotibial joints were performed in five out of the ten horses. This minimally invasive surgical procedure provided a detailed view of the inside of the joint, thereby confirming presumptive diagnosis of cranial cruciate ligament injury or rupture.
Post Mortem Examinations
Post mortem examinations were performed on two of the horses. These inspections after death documented partial tears of the cranial cruciate ligament.
In conclusion, the research article provides valuable information on how clinical, radiographic, arthroscopic, and post-mortem examinations can shed light on cranial cruciate ligament injuries in horses. This knowledge can be useful in identifying and treating similar cases in the future.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6610.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthroscopy / veterinary
- Female
- Hindlimb
- Horses / injuries
- Lameness, Animal / etiology
- Ligaments, Articular / injuries
- Male
- Stifle
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Rubio-Martínez LM, Redding WR, Bladon B, Wilderjans H, Payne RJ, Tessier C, Geffroy O, Parker R, Bell C, Collingwood FA. Fracture of the medial intercondylar eminence of the tibia in horses treated by arthroscopic fragment removal (21 horses). Equine Vet J 2018 Jan;50(1):60-64.
- Desjardins MR, Hurtig MB. Diagnosis of equine stifle joint disorders: three cases. Can Vet J 1991 Sep;32(9):543-50.
