Risk factors for medial meniscal injury in association with cranial cruciate ligament rupture.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the significant risk factors for medial meniscal injury in naturally occurring cranial cruciate ligament rupture and to quantify the risk using multivariate analysis.


METHODS
A retrospective case control study was performed of dogs that had undergone surgery for cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Data recorded included patient signalment (age, breed and sex), the duration of the lameness, the extent of the cranial cruciate ligament rupture (complete or partial) and the condition of the medial meniscus. Logistic regression was used to analyse the relationship between these variables and tears in the medial meniscus.


RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-one of 443 stifles (36·3%) in 366 dogs had a medial meniscal tear. The risk of a medial meniscal tear was increased by 12·9 times in association with complete cranial cruciate ligament rupture (OR 12·9; 95% CI 6·8 to 24·2), by approximately 2·6% for each additional week of lameness (OR 1·026; 95% CI 1·009 to 1·043) and by approximately 1·4% for each additional kilogram of bodyweight (OR 1·014; 95% CI 1·000 to 1·028). Golden retrievers and Rottweilers were at increased risk and West Highland white terriers were at reduced risk of medial meniscal tears compared with Labrador retrievers.


CONCLUSIONS
To minimise the risk of medial meniscal tears, surgical stabilisation should not be unnecessarily delayed.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OES.
G M
GM
Hayes
S J
SJ
Langley-Hobbs
N D
ND
Jeffery
D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001947:Breeding; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D007794:Lameness, Animal; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012421:Rupture / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D013264:Stifle / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries