title: Surgical Technique and Initial Clinical Experience with a Novel Extracapsular Articulating Implant for Treatment of the Canine Cruciate Ligament Deficient Stifle Joint.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the surgical technique, clinical efficacy, and complications using the Simitri Stable in Stride(®) extracapsular articulating implant (EAI) to treat naturally occurring stifle instability due to cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) insufficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Client-owned dogs with CrCL-deficient stifles (n=60 dogs; 66 stifles).
  
  
  METHODS
  An EAI was applied to the medial aspect of the distal femur and proximal tibia after stifle exploration and treatment of joint pathology. Outcome measures included lameness score, time to weight bearing, and bilateral assessment of stifle stability, stifle range of motion (ROM), and thigh circumference (TC). Outcome measures were determined preoperatively and at intervals from 4.5 to 16.0 months (median 8.9 months) postoperatively. Data were excluded from bilaterally affected dogs <6 months after CrCL surgery on the contralateral limb, and from dogs with contralateral limb lameness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within 24 hours of EAI surgery, dogs were weight bearing on 64 of 66 limbs at the walk. Incidence of major complications requiring surgical revision was 15.3% and minor complications was 10.2%. Postoperatively, there were significant improvements in lameness scores and ROM in 34 EAI-treated limbs meeting inclusion criteria, and the mean ROM returned to within normal limits. TC did not change in the operated limb, but decreased significantly in the control limb.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EAI effectively stabilized the CrCL-deficient stifle, and significantly improved lameness scores and stifle ROM. Decreased TC in control limbs may have been due to early return to mobility and weight bearing on the EAI-treated limb.
authors.affiliation: Helivet Mobile Surgical Services, Sundre, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Veronica J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Barkowski
authors.affiliation: Helivet Mobile Surgical Services, Sundre, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Neil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Embleton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012086:Reoperation; D013264:Stifle / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*