EVALUATION OF FIBULAR HEAD TRANSPOSITION FOR REPAIR OF EXPERIMENTAL CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURY IN DOGS

Unilateral cranial cruciate ligament excision and fibular head transpo sition (FHT) were performed on 30 adult dogs. Vertical ground reaction forces were determined using force prate data before and after surger y. Cranial drawer motion, tibial rotation, and varus-valgus motion wer e measured at monthly intervals. Radiographic, gross, and histological examinations of the stifle joints that had been operated on were perf ormed 3 weeks, 4 months, and 10 months after surgery. A scoring system was used to evaluate lameness, osteophyte formation, and meniscal dam age. Rank correlation coefficients were calculated between variables t ested in pairs. Cranial drawer motion and abnormal tibial rotation wer e present in all of the joints that had been operated on. Peak vertica l force and associated impulse were not restored during the study time period. Meniscal damage was noted in 25% of the dogs at month 4 and i n 50% of the dogs at month 10. Progressive gross and histological dete rioration of the articular cartilage was observed in all joints. Posit ive correlations were noted between the degree of stifle joint instabi lity and meniscal injury or radiographic changes. FHT did not control cranial drawer motion and rotational instability, was not successful i n restoring limb function, and did not prevent joint degeneration, esp ecially meniscal damage. (C) Copyright 1994 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons