A ruptured cruciate ligament is a common cause of lameness in the hind legs of larger breeds of dogs. Often it is caused by a wrong movement, which makes the dog suddenly lame. If the cruciate ligament is not yet completely torn,
the dog can often still walk on it. The knee becomes swollen because it becomes overfilled with synovial fluid. When the cruciate ligament is not completely torn, rest and exercise can ensure recovery. If the knee ligament is completely torn, surgery is necessary.
What it is
The cruciate ligaments are tendons that are stretched between the bones of the shins and thighs. They ensure that the bone parts are held together relative to each other. It can occur in all dog breeds, but especially in larger dog breeds, cruciate ligament problems in the hind legs are common.
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Boxers, Rottweilers, and Terriers are more susceptible to cruciate ligament injuries. Usually, the anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. When the cruciate ligament tears, the knee becomes unstable. The dog suddenly becomes lame and in pain. Sometimes synovial fluid runs into the knee and becomes thick.
How it arises
The cruciate ligament has a high risk of tearing when there is a combination of overextension and rotation of the knee. Usually, this is due to a wrong move or during a wild romp. There may also be an overstretched knee. There may also be a genetic predisposition.
In a large number of dogs that tear a cruciate ligament, a tear (rupture) of the other knee also develops later on. Larger and muscular dogs are heavier, which puts greater forces on the cruciate ligaments, putting them at greater risk.
In addition to a torn cruciate ligament, it is often seen that the meniscus is also torn. This is because the bone parts can move relative to each other and the knee is unstable. This puts a lot of stress on the meniscus.
The symptoms
With a complete rupture, the symptoms are obvious. The dog suddenly walks with a limp and often only just touches the ground with its toes. Often the owner sees the dog suddenly walking lame or giving a scream after a hefty romp. When the cruciate ligament is damaged but has not yet ruptured, the symptoms are often less clear.
The dog sometimes still puts pressure on his leg, but less than usual. Sometimes it can be felt clearly because the knee is thicker than the other knee.
Diagnosis
The vet will check to what extent the cruciate ligament is damaged and will carry out an examination. In addition to an overfilling of the knee by the synovial fluid, it can be painful if the leg is bent or stretched. In an unstable knee, the bone parts can shift relative to each other. The vet can do a drawer test. It is possible to move the shin forward relative to the thigh.
With minor damage, it is sometimes difficult to make a diagnosis. Then you can choose to take an X-ray. Keyhole surgery, which is sometimes done in humans, is not possible in dogs because a dog’s knee is too small for a viewing device (arthroscope).
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Therapy
When there is no complete rupture of the cruciate ligament, recovery can sometimes occur with rest, bandages, and exercises. This is the case with a strain or a partial tear. This is especially true for smaller dogs. When a cruciate ligament is completely torn, surgery is always necessary.
The remnants of the broken cruciate ligament are first removed and it is checked whether there is any further damage. In smaller dogs, plastic cruciate ligaments are usually applied outside the knee. This ensures that the knee becomes stable again. In larger dogs,
a piece of knee tendon or knee ligament is often used to replace the cruciate ligament. There are also other techniques for operating the knee. It depends on the type of injury, the size of the dog, and the surgeon’s preference.
After the operation
Recovery after surgery takes a long time. The dog may move very limited for the first six weeks. He is not allowed to play, run loose or climb stairs. He may only move what is necessary on the leash.
Then you can slowly build up the movement again. Usually, the dog will never fully recover. In about half of the dogs, problems also arise in the cruciate ligament of the other knee later on.
