The clinical outcome of three procedures for extraarticular stabilization of cranial cruciate ligament injuries in dogs

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament injury in which thestifle was stabilized with lateral suture stabilization, lateral suture stabilization-modified, or Securos lateral bone anchor tibial suture andmonofilament nylon sutures placed at quasi-isometric points of the stifle. It is a retrospective study comprising a sample population of49 client-owned dogs. Medical records from 2014–2016 were reviewed to identify dogs that had a cranial cruciate ligament rupture inwhich the stifle was stabilized using one of the aforementioned methods. The overall complication rate was 16.3% and the documentedcomplication rate requiring implant removal was 0%. Owners reported full or acceptable function in 96% of cases. There were nosignificant statistical differences between the 3 techniques. Stabilization of cranial cruciate ligament-deficient stifles in dogs withlateral suture stabilization, lateral suture stabilization-modified, or Securos lateral bone anchor tibial suture is reliable with acceptablecomplication rates. The 3 procedures tested may be appropriate in medium-sized nonathletic dogs whose owners have limited budgets.