POPLITEAL TENDON TRANSPOSITION FOR STABILIZATION OF THE CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT DEFICIENT STIFLE JOINT IN DOGS - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

Popliteal tendon transposition was performed in five dogs with surgica lly induced cranial cruciate ligament rupture. After a lateral approac h to the stifle joint, the popliteal tendon was severed distal to the sesamoid bone and transposed cranially onto the tibial crest to mimic the sagittal orientation of the cranial cruciate ligament. The origin of the popliteal tendon on the lateral femoral condyle was preserved. Lameness was not clinically detectable 2 months after surgery. At 6 mo nths postoperatively, there was minimal radiographic and histopatholog ic evidence of degenerative joint disease in the stifle joints that ha d underwent surgery. There was no gross or microscopic evidence of men iscal damage found at necropsy 6 months after surgery. Biomechanical s tudies are warranted before recommending the procedure. (C) Copyright 1995 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons