Diagnostic and treatment methods used for the cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs: a survey among veterinarians in Chile

Abstract

The cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) is an important anatomical structure of the stifle that contributes to joint stability. Tears of the CrCL are frequent orthopaedic lesions in dogs and the diagnosis is based on orthopaedic examination. Despite the large number of surgical methods described, no treatment has been universally accepted in veterinary medicine and the treatment is based on the preferences of the surgeon. With regard to diagnosis and treatment, the aim of the present study was to assess the preferred method in Chile to diagnose and treat the rupture of CrCL in dogs. Out of 307 surveys handed out, 206 questionnaires were obtained and 49 (23%) of them stated that one or more methods were performed to diagnose and treat CrCL rupture in dogs, while twenty one (10, 19%) questionnaires were answered in full. The diagnosis is mainly based on palpation and radiography is the most common complementary method used. Regarding the treatment for the CrCL rupture, the extraarticular surgical technique was the most common method of treatment (90, 47%). In conclusion, we found out that few veterinarians in Chile diagnose and treat CrCL rupture in dogs. The diagnoses for CrCL rupture is mostly performed through palpation of the affected stifle while imaging diagnostic methods are scarcely or not applied. The extraarticular technique is the preferred method to treat CrCL rupture in dogs in Chile.