title: Evaluation of the radiographic infrapatellar fat pad sign of the contralateral stifle joint as a risk factor for subsequent contralateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs with unilateral rupture: 96 cases (2006-2007).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine prevalence of the contralateral radiographic infrapatellar fat pad sign and contralateral radiographic degenerative sign (degenerative changes) and evaluate both signs as risk factors for subsequent contralateral cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) rupture in dogs with unilateral CrCL rupture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  96 dogs with unilateral CrCL rupture and 22 dogs with bilateral CrCL rupture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs with unilateral CrCL rupture were classified as having normal (n = 84) or abnormal (12) contralateral stifle joints on the basis of joint palpation. Associations between potential predictive variables and rates of subsequent contralateral CrCL rupture were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 84 dogs with unilateral CrCL rupture in which the contralateral stifle joint was palpably normal, 29 (34.5%) had a contralateral fat pad sign and 31 (36.9%) had a degenerative sign. All dogs with unilateral CrCL rupture in which the contralateral stifle joint was palpably abnormal had a contralateral fat pad sign and degenerative sign. The contralateral fat pad sign was the most important risk factor for subsequent rupture of the contralateral CrCL. For dogs with unilateral CrCL rupture and palpably normal contralateral stifle joint with and without a contralateral fat pad sign, median time to subsequent rupture was 421 and 1,688 days, respectively, and the 3-year probability of subsequent rupture was 85.3% and 24.9%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bilateral stifle joint radiography should be performed for all dogs with CrCL rupture. Bilateral stifle joint arthroscopy should be considered for dogs with a contralateral fat pad sign.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616.
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Bruecker
authors.forename: Ian G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Holsworth
authors.forename: Jessie S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Philip H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Kass
authors.forename: Brett J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kantrowitz
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kapatkin
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012421:Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013264:Stifle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology