Medial Meniscal Tears Increase the Risk of Moderate to Severe Cartilage Damage on the Medial Femoral Condyle

Introduction: Medial meniscal damage is common in dogs with complete cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) rupture. Three recent studies have evaluated the relationship between bucket handle tears (BHTs) and damage to the articular cartilage with discrepant results. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between displaceable meniscal tears (DMTs), including BHTs and flap tears, of the medial meniscus and cartilage wear of the medial femoral condyle specifically (MFC).

Materials and Methods: Medical records from dogs treated with arthroscopy and tibial plateau levelling osteotomy were reviewed. Complete records included signalment, status of the CrCL, medial meniscal status, cartilage condition of the MFC, and arthroscopic images. The articular cartilage was prospectively scored at the time of arthroscopy as normal, equivalent to a modified Outerbridge score (MOS) of 0, mild (MOS of 1 or 2), moderate (MOS of 3), or severe (MOS of 4 or 5). Menisci were then classified in a binary fashion as having either no/mild (MOS: 0–2) or moderate/severe (MOS: 3–5) cartilage wear. A Fisher’s exact test was used to determine whether frequencies of moderate/severe cartilage wear differed between meniscal groups.

Results: Records for 245 stifles met the inclusion criteria and 116 had a DMT. Stifles with DMTs had a higher frequency of moderate/severe articular cartilage wear on the MFC in comparison to stifles with normal menisci (p = 0.009).

Discussion/Conclusion: These data show that dogs with DMTs have a statistically significantly increased risk of moderate to severe cartilage damage on the medial femoral condyle.

Acknowledgment

None.

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
15 July 2025