Diagnostics and treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture

Sa？etak The cranial cruciate ligament is one of the most important stabilizers of the stifle (knee) joint in dogs and humans. Rupture of cranial cruciate ligament is one of the most common reasons for hind limb lameness and pain and it has various different etiologies, most of the cases are chronic processes rather than acute trauma. Rupture can be partial or full rupture. When doing an orthopedic exam it is important to discern what kind of rupture it is, and whether the meniscus is damaged or not. It is advised to sedate the animal prior to the orthopedic exam. When the animal is calm, the muscles are relaxed and the examination is less painful which ensures more accurate results. Treatment can be non – surgical and surgical, depending on the dog size, age, duration of the lesion, and on the wishes and possibilities of the owner