Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Comparing two surgeries for cat knee ligament tears using a limb
By Kneifel, Wolfgang et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2018·Department for Companion Animals and Horses·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Use of a custom-made limb-press model to assess intra- and extracapsular techniques for treating cranial cruciate ligament rupture in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study looked at two surgical methods for treating cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) tears in cats, specifically focusing on how well they stabilize the knee joint after surgery. The researchers tested a standard method called the fabella-tibial suture and another called the under-and-over technique using cat leg models. They found that the fabella-tibial suture provided better stability under various weights, while the under-and-over technique sometimes failed to keep the joint stable. This suggests that the fabella-tibial suture may be the more reliable option for fixing CrCL tears in cats.
People also search for: cat knee surgery options · cranial cruciate ligament tear treatment in cats · cat stifle joint stability after surgery
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed to compare the under-and-over technique, a type of intracapsular treatment, and the standard fabella-tibial suture, a method for extracapsular treatment, in achieving immediate, postoperative stifle stability after cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) rupture by using a feline, custom-made limb-press model. Methods Cadaveric feline hindlimb specimens (n = 14) were positioned in the limb press at predefined joint angles (stifle joint: 120°; hock joint: 120°), and vertical loads of 5%, 10%, 20% and 30% body weight were applied statically. Mediolateral radiographic views were obtained of the stifles under each load before and after CrCL transection, as well as after treatment with either of the two surgical techniques, and differences in distance between two predefined radiographic points for each radiograph were analysed. Results The general linear model showed a significant effect of load ( P <0.01) and technique ( P = 0.004) and a significant interaction between load and technique ( P = 0.006) regarding craniocaudal stifle stability. Distances between predefined tibial and femoral reference points were consistently higher in transected CrCLs than in intact stifles. All standard fabella-tibial suture-treated stifles (n = 7) were stable at all loads tested. Of the seven under-and-over technique-treated stifles, one was unstable at 20% body weight load and three at 30% body weight load. Conclusions and relevance Our model, which appropriately reproduced certain aspects of domestic shorthair cat stifle mechanics, indicated that a 40 lb monofilament nylon prosthesis, tightened at 20 N, produces more favourable biomechanical stabilisation of craniocaudal cruciate-related stifle instability than a 0.5 cm wide strip of fascia lata applied intracapsularly.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28434280/