A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY COMPARING 2 FASCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES TO STABILIZE THE CRANIAL CRUCIATE-DEFICIENT STIFLE IN THE DOG

The standard intra-articular ''under-and-over'' (U&O) cranial cruciate ligament substitute technique, using autogenous fascia lata, was comp ared with a combined intra- and extracapsular U&O fascial reconstructi on procedure. Medium, large and giant dog breeds (body weights greater -than-or-equal-to 15 kg), presented with unilateral rupture of the cra nial cruciate ligament, were included in the study. Functional usage o f the operated limb was evaluated according to a clinical grading syst em within the first six weeks and again at 12 and 26 weeks after the o peration. Dogs treated with the standard intra-articular U & O procedu re were partly weight-bearing on the operated limb within three to fiv e weeks postoperatively. Return to full use of the limb with no or onl y mild, occasional lameness was recorded in 20 of 24 dogs (83.3%) afte r 26 weeks. Those treated with the combined intra- and extracapsular U &O procedure, returned to partial weight-bearing within four to seven weeks after the operation. These dogs exhibited slightly more cranial drawer motion (+/- 1.0 - 2.0 mm) at the six and compared to the first group, but stifle stability improved between 12 and 26 weeks. The resu lts obtained from 45 of 55 dogs (81.9%) treated with the combined intr a- and extracapsular U&O technique were comparable with the standard i ntra-articular U&O procedure with return to full use of the limb after 26 weeks. Radiological evidence of peri-articular osteophyte formatio n showed no remarkable difference between the two techniques after 26 weeks. Results obtained from the standard intra-articular U & O techni que indicated that it was an effective method for use in large dogs wi th body weights greater than 30 kg. This is in agreement with findings in other studies. The combined intra- and extracapsular U & O fascial reconstruction was a reliable alternative for use in the medium to la rge dog breeds with body weights ranging between 15 and 26 kg.