ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ANATOMY OF THE NORMAL CANINE STIFLE

Ultrasonographic examination of the normal canine stifle joint was per formed to characterize its normal anatomy, Stifles of four normal adul t dogs were imaged in sagittal and transverse planes and each anatomic structure visualized was recorded, Normal anatomic structures consist ently seen included the patellar tendon, medial and lateral menisci, t he cranial cruciate ligament and femoral condyle cartilage, The caudal cruciate ligament was visualized in two dogs, Collateral ligaments an d meniscal ligaments were not visualized, The dogs were then euthanize d and each stifle was isolated, Following removal of superficial muscl es and skin, each stifle was imaged in a water bath to definitively id entify the structures that had previously been visualized on the live dogs, The ultrasonographic appearance of the isolated stifle specimens was similar to that found in live dogs, The results of this study ind icate that ultrasound can be used to image the normal anatomy of the c anine stifle, The echogenicity of the patellar ligament, cruciate liga ments, menisci and articular cartilage was similar to that previously reported in equine stifles and human knees.