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Home » Archive » 2013 » Veterinary Session

Veterinary session

Ultrasonography of the canine stifle joint
Varsányi Réka Anna - year 6
SzIU, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Belgyógyászati Tanszék és Klinika
Supervisor: Dr. Manczur Ferenc

Abstract:

Knee injuries are common surgical problems in dogs. Among these injuries cranial ligament rupture occurs most often, which is usually diagnosed by physical exam and radiography and recently also by arthroscopy.

The aim of my research was to study the ultrasonographic appearance of the anatomical structures of the canine stifle joint. I used an ESAOTE Mylab 40vet scanner equipped with 10 and 13 MHz linear array transducers. The sonographic exams took place at Faculty of Veterinary Science and in the Felicavet animal hospital.

First I learnt and practiced knee ultrasonography on 15 healthy large breed dogs. Then I examined 10 middle or large breed dogs with cranial ligament rupture immediately before surgery. My ultrasonographic findings were then compared to the arthroscopic results or to the traditional surgical diagnosis.

During my investigation I was able to visualize and identify the following structures by ultrasound in the stifle: femoral condyles, tibial plateau and crista tibiae, patella, the superficial hyaline layers of the cartilage, suprapatellar and infrapatellar recesses, synovial fluid, cranial cruciate ligament, lateralis and medial collateral ligament, patellar ligament, corpus adiposum, ligament of m. ext. dig. longus, the lateral and medial menisci.

All these structures were consistently visualized in healthy dogs except the cranial cruciate ligament, which could only be detected in one dog. The poor visibility of this ligament by ultrasound may be explained by the adipose body above it or by the inadequate penetration of the high frequency ultrasound used during the study. Among the various pathological findings, joint effusions and the presence and severity of arthrosis were shown with the highest accuracy by this technique. The clear sonographic diagnosis of meniscal tear was stated in one case, while in the remaining dogs only the homogeneous or inhomogeneous appearance of the meniscus was recognized. This latter not always correlated with the actual status of the menisci.

As a conclusion of my study it can be stated that the diagnostic value of knee ultrasonography is relatively limited in dogs with cranial collateral rupture. However, in some cases it can complement the physical exam findings and radiography when assessing the anatomical structures of the stifle joint.



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