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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2013; 26(06): 493-497
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-12-06-0070
Clinical Communication
Schattauer GmbH

Management of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in small dogs: A questionnaire study

E. Comerford
1   Institute of Ageing and Chronic disease and School of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK
,
K. Forster
2   Small Animal Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK
,
K. Gorton
2   Small Animal Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK
,
T. Maddox
2   Small Animal Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 03 June 2012

Accepted: 19 June 2013

Publication Date:
04 January 2018 (online)

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Summary

Objectives: To survey the current management of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in small dogs (<15 kg) by veterinarians.

Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to veterinarians attending the British Veterinary Orthopaedic Association Spring meeting and British Small Animal Veterinary Association Annual Congress which took place in April 2010. Respondents were surveyed on their management of small dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture

Results: Immediate surgical management was chosen by 15.5% of the respondents. Following that, 77.6% of respondents suggested that case management would depend on severity of lameness (81%), age (72.6%), bodyweight (70.4%), degree of instability (64.8%), and duration of lameness (64.0%). Conservative management included non- steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (91.1%), short leash walks (91.1%), weight loss (89.0%), hydrotherapy (53.6%), physiotherapy (41.9%), and cage rest (24.2%). Where surgical management was chosen, 71.4% would perform the procedure rather than refer it to another practice. Surgical techniques included extra-capsular stabilisation (63.4%), corrective osteotomies (32.9%), and intra-articular stabilisation (6.8%). The demographic characteristics of the responding veterinarians had no effect on their initial management of the case. General practice veterinarians were less likely to perform a corrective osteotomy than to refer the case, but were no less likely to perform an extracapsular technique.

Clinical significance: Conservative management is still widely used for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs weighing less than 15 kg; this is in agreement with previous publications on the management of this condition in small dogs.

Keywords

Cranial cruciate ligament - conservative - management - dogs

 

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