It also allows various treatments such as cleanup of the torn ligament and repair or removal of the meniscus to be accomplished through a very minimally invasive approach.Р’В Other non-arthroscopic techniques can be used, however, require either a larger incision in the joint (arthrotomy) or a more limited approach which confines visualization to only the medial meniscus.Р’В A meniscal release procedure (cutting the meniscus or ligament holding the meniscus) remains controversial.Р’В The theory is that it helps prevent a meniscal tear in the future.Р’В Concerns, however, have arisen that the meniscal release may lead to instability and possibly an increase in osteoarthritis. The first step in surgically addressing a dog or cat knee with a cruciate ligament injury is to properly explore the joint, confirm the ligament tear, and identify any other injuries within the joint.Р’В This exploratory can be achieved through a variety of ways.Р’В The least invasive and most complete method is by arthroscopic exploratory.Р’В Similar to whatРІР‚в„ўs done in people, a small scope, connected to a camera and video monitor, is inserted through a small (~1cm) incision.Р’В This allows good visualization of all structures inside the joint. When it comes to surgery, owners of dogs with cruciate ligament injury are often faced with difficult decisions.Р’В A variety of surgical procedures have been developed to deal with this injury and discussions with veterinarians and other pet owners may only lead to furtherР’В confusion. The concurrent meniscal injury also needs to be addressed at the time of surgery. Instability and inflammation in the knee joint will usually continue until stability is restored. Many dogs that tear the cruciate ligament will often have a concurrent injury to their meniscus, the РІР‚СљcushionРІР‚Сњ of cartilage in between the bones of the knee.Р’В About half of the dogs that tear their cruciate ligament in one knee will end up tearing the cruciate ligament in the other knee.Р”Вogs with partial or complete cranial cruciate ligament rupture rarely improve without surgical intervention.

Why this РІР‚Сљcruciate diseaseРІР‚Сњ occurs in some dogs remains a mystery, however, a combination of heritable and environmental factorsРІР‚вЂњsuch as conformation and obesityРІР‚вЂњlikely play a role.

The rupture may occur from trauma or from the gradual deterioration of the ligament. Rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament, equivalent to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in people, is one of the most common orthopedic injuries in dogs. Brourman, DVM, MS, DACVS, outlines best practices for ACL, or knee TPLOР’В treatment in dogs,

WhatРІР‚в„ўs the best veterinary surgery procedure for my dogРІР‚в„ўs cruciate ligament injury? WestVetРІР‚в„ўs Chief of Staff, Jeff D.

Acl surgery dogs