Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament transection induces canine osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) transection in the canine knee can be an effective alternative method for creating canine osteoarthritis (OA).


METHODS
Six adult dogs underwent arthroscopic examination of the left knee with a 2.7 mm 30 degrees fiberoptic arthroscope. The articular surfaces of the femoral condyles, tibial plateaus, and patella were examined for evidence of OA. The ACL was directly visualized and transected. Care was taken to avoid iatrogenic articular cartilage injury. The animals were sacrificed 2 to 6 months after ACL transection. Both the ACL transected and ACL intact knees from each animal were assessed for gross pathology and histology.


RESULTS
The dogs experienced minimal perioperative pain and rapidly returned to their preinjury level of activity. Gross and histological examination of articular cartilage confirmed this approach induced OA in every ACL transected knee. No contralateral ACL intact knee developed degenerative OA changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Arthroscopic ACL transection is an effective method for creating canine OA. This approach has several methodological advantages relative to other techniques.
Marshall
K W
KW
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Toronto, Canada.
Chan
A D
AD
D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004724:Endoscopy; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values