THE INTERCONDYLAR FOSSA OF THE NORMAL CANINE STIFLE - AN ANATOMIC ANDRADIOGRAPHIC STUDY

The intercondylar fossa (ICE) in dogs consists of a cranial outlet, in tercondylar shelf, caudal arch, caudal outlet, a medial wall, and a la teral wall. The normal cranial outlet is bell-shape and, in mixed-bree d dogs (mean body weight 19.2 kg, N = 21), measured 5.8 mm cranially, 8.1 mm centrally, and 10.3 mm caudally. The ICF is oriented 12 degrees from the dorsal plane of the femoral diaphysis and obliqued 7 degrees , proximolateral to distomedial, in the sagittal plane. To adjust for dog size, a fossa width index (FWI) was calculated by dividing the cra nial outlet width by the distance between epicondyles. The normal FWI as determined in this study was 0.18 cranially, 0.25 centrally, and 0. 32 caudally. The fossa height index was 0.31. Contact between the ICE and the cranial cruciate ligament began at about 115 degrees of extens ion. The contact area moved cranially in the intercondylar fossa as th e stifle was extended. Evaluation of the ICF can be performed radiogra phically but positioning is critical. (C)Copyright 1995 by The America n College of Veterinary Surgeons