Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Patellar ligament length ratio in large-breed dogs
By Johnson, Allen L et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2006·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Vertical patellar position in large-breed dogs with clinically normal stifles and large-breed dogs with medial patellar luxation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of large-breed dogs with normal knee joints and another group with medial patellar luxation (MPL) were studied to understand the position of their kneecaps. The dogs with MPL had kneecaps that were positioned higher than those in the normal group, which could contribute to their knee problems. This finding suggests that the position of the kneecap may be important in understanding and treating MPL in large-breed dogs. If your dog is experiencing knee issues, it might be worth discussing this information with your vet.
People also search for: large-breed dog knee problems · medial patellar luxation treatment · why is my dog limping on back leg
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To further define vertical patellar position, as measured by the ratio of patellar ligament length to patellar length (L:P), in large-breed dogs with clinically normal stifles and compare that to the L:P of large-breed dogs with medial patellar luxation (MPL). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Large-breed dogs (n = 50) with clinically normal stifle joints and 30 large-breed dogs with MPL. METHODS: Large-breed dogs with clinically normal stifle joints or MPL were identified and divided into groups (NORM and MPL, respectively). L:P values were determined for each dog by 4 observers from single lateral stifle radiographs. L:P was compared between NORM and MPL groups and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: All 4 observers found a significantly higher L:P (more proximally positioned patella) for the MPL group compared with the NORM group. Overall mean (+/-SEM) L:P were: NORM, 1.71+/-0.020 and MPL, 1.87+/-0.025. The 95% CI was determined to be 1.45-1.97 for the NORM group and 1.57-2.17 for the MPL group. CONCLUSIONS: Large-breed dogs with MPL had a significantly more proximal vertical patellar position compared with large-breed dogs with clinically normal stifles. Large-breed dogs with L:P values >1.97 are considered to have patella alta. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Proximal displacement of the patella within the femoral trochlear groove may play a role in MPL in large-breed dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16409413/