title: Surgeons' preferences in treating cranial cruciate ligament ruptures in dogs.
abstract: To characterize veterinary surgeons' preferences in diagnostic, surgical, and postoperative management of cranial cruciate ligament ruptures in dogs, 175 surgeons, including American College of Veterinary Surgeons diplomates, surgery specialty-practice veterinarians, university surgeons, and surgery residents, were surveyed. Their experience with stifle surgery was evenly distributed from 1 to > 21 years. Approximately 70% (118/175) of surgeons treated 3 to 9 dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture each month. In diagnosis, 98% (172/175) of the surgeons used a cranial drawer test with the stifle joint at 140 degrees of flexion. Stifle radiography was performed by 53% (93/175) of surgeons for acute and by 81% (141/175) of surgeons for chronic cases. In repair of cranial cruciate ligament ruptures, 32% (56/175) of surgeons did not use intra-articular procedures, whereas 8% (14/175) of surgeons did not use extra-articular procedures. Surgical preferences depended on dog size (P < 0.05). For small dogs (ie, < 11 kg), 80% (140/175) of surgeons used extra-articular methods, and 14% (24/175) used intra-articular methods. For medium dogs (ie, 11 to 29 kg), 52% (91/175) of surgeons used extra-articular and 43% (75/175) used intra-articular methods. For large dogs (ie, > 29 kg), surgeons' preferences depended on the injury's duration (P < 0.05). For large dogs with acute injuries, 39% (68/175) preferred extra-articular and 55% (96/175) preferred intra-articular, whereas in chronic cases, 52% (91/175) preferred extra-articular and 42% (73/175) preferred intra-articular. The most common extra-articular method was placement of a suture from the lateral fabella to a hole drilled in the tibial tuberosity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7859.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Korvick
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schaeffer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D012421:Rupture; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires