The effect on the contralateral stifle joint of sectioning of the cranial cruciate ligament in the dog

Abstract

In three adult dogs the cranial cruciate ligament of the right stifle was sectioned. The animals were examined at regular intervals over the following twenty‐nine months and the clinical findings noted. Fluorochrome bone markers were injected at intervals of approximately six months. Following injection of barium sulphate and Berlin blue after euthanasia, the joint tissues of both stifles were examined for evidence of degenerative changes. The right stifles showed typical changes of osteoarthritis, while the left stifles revealed no abnormality.

Age, Tibial Plateau Angle, Sex, and Weight as Risk Factors for Contralateral Rupture of the Cranial Cruciate Ligament in Labradors

“…To our knowledge, no other study has tried to link these variables with prediction of subsequent ruptures. It has been illustrated in previous experimental studies that transection of 1 cruciate ligament does not cause a compensatory loading of the contralateral limb and does not change the histologic findings (gross or microscopic) of the contralateral cruciate ligament or femoral/tibial condyles 23,24 . This would suggest that unilateral CCLR does not in itself predispose to subsequent rupture and that the existence of multiple factors in each individual must be present.…”

Effect of signalment on the presentation of canine patients suffering from cranial cruciate ligament disease

“…When using force plate analysis, O’Connor and others (1989) could not demonstrate a compensatory increase in loading of the control limb after unilateral severance of the contralateral CCL. In three crossbreeds, unilateral CCL severance caused no clinical, gross or histological changes in the opposite stifle joint (Campbell and others 1982). However, many dogs do go on to develop bilateral CCL disease.…”